With dwindling MCU momentum and soaring anticipation for Tom Cruise’s last ride as Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning could finally outpace Marvel at the global box office after a decade-long chase.
May 17, 2025: As the summer blockbuster season heats up, Hollywood is once again poised for a major franchise showdown — this time between Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and the latest offerings from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With Tom Cruise’s eighth outing as Ethan Hunt, the high-octane spy thriller is not just about box office numbers — it’s about reclaiming lost ground.
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Flashback: Cruise vs. Marvel – A Rivalry Through the Years
Back in 2000, Mission: Impossible II was the undisputed global champion, raking in $547 million, while Marvel’s cinematic future was still in early gestation with X-Men ($296 million) trailing behind. For much of the early 2000s, the Mission: Impossible (MI) series comfortably held its ground.
A major face-off occurred in 2011, when Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol clocked $694 million globally. Despite releasing in December, it bested Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger ($370 million) and Thor ($449 million), both of which were summer releases.
However, 2015 marked a turning point. Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron delivered a massive $1.4 billion, crushing MI: Rogue Nation’s $682 million. Since then, Marvel has led the race, peaking with Infinity War ($2 billion) and Black Panther ($1.34 billion) in 2018, even as MI: Fallout posted its franchise-best $791 million.
In 2023, Dead Reckoning – Part One underwhelmed with $571 million, impacted by the Barbenheimer wave and stiff competition. Yet, Marvel faltered too, with flops like The Marvels ($206 million) and Quantumania ($476 million), leaving only Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($845 million) as its saving grace.
2025: A Tipping Point?
With Captain America: Brave New World ($415 million) and Thunderbolts ($278 million) failing to ignite the box office, Marvel’s hold appears weaker than ever. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is still to come, but early buzz doesn’t suggest a $1B juggernaut.
Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is riding a wave of anticipation. It’s expected to open at ₹16–20 crore in India and reach $600 million+ globally, with Cruise’s swansong as Hunt fueling audience nostalgia and critical interest.
If Cruise manages to surpass $845 million, he may not just reclaim the franchise’s crown — he could also mark a rare modern victory over the once-invincible Marvel Studios.
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Tom Cruise, Mission Impossible Final Reckoning, Avengers Age of Ultron, Marvel vs Mission Impossible, MI8 box office, Marvel 2025 movies, Ethan Hunt vs MCU, Final Reckoning vs Thunderbolts, Marvel box office drop, MCU vs Paramount