It has been almost three decades now, and the Mission: Impossible franchise continues to be a part of the action cinema, entertaining its viewers with hardcore action and complex spy storytelling. Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is now the face of death-defying stunts, and each movie increases the level of what is physically possible in practical action filmmaking.
But the franchise has reached the crossroads now. As Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning seemingly concludes the franchise, a few optimistic comments from Simon Pegg have seemingly stirred fans’ skepticism.
Simon Pegg Makes Big Promises for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Mission: Impossible 8 can be a conclusion to Ethan Hunt’s adventures, and the title alone suggests that this might be the final installment in the franchise. It picks up from Dead Reckoning and has Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, and Simon Pegg back in their roles with Ving Rhames and Vanessa Kirby.
During an interview for Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, Simon Pegg made an optimistic declaration about the upcoming movie. He said,
I have just finished shooting. I have one day left of pickups to do. I’ve seen it. It’s bananas. It’s absolutely bananas. What he does in this one, it boggles the mind. I think this one is the best one ever. And I’m not just saying that because it’s like, “Oh, you’ve got to say that.” It is going to be great.
These claims from Pegg, who has been with the franchise since Mission: Impossible III in 2006, carry more responsibility given the fact that he has been for so long. However, it is not the first time that the actor or other cast members of the franchise have made similar statements.
Actors often promise a bit extra than usual to sell their movie, and netizens seemingly noticed this too, especially after the underwhelming performance of Mission: Impossible 7.
That is what they always say, "our next movie is the best one yet"
— Alex (@Alex28591486) November 17, 2024
not moved. ppl said this about the last one and it wasn’t on that level.
— Jay (@YngJackieAprile) November 17, 2024
Well, he wouldn't say "meh, not as good as the others"
— Gust (💙,🧡) (@Doxix93) November 18, 2024
Y'all say that every single time…, it has become a bad joke now.
— James Tokio (@JamesTokio) November 17, 2024
“The movie I’m promoting is the best film of the franchise.” https://t.co/yoUT6Mqxw6
— Alicia (Lee) McClendon (@QTarantino_) November 18, 2024
The reactions come at a time when the future of the franchise seems very uncertain. Moreover, the production of the movie has not been without hurdles. The SAG-AFTRA strike and a change in title from Dead Reckoning Part Two to The Final Reckoning, and now the production budget has raised the stakes both on and off the screen.
Budget Concerns Cast a Shadow for Mission: Impossible 8‘s Box-Office Run
The journey to The Final Reckoning is a bit uncertain because of the performance of its predecessor. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning grossed $567.5 million worldwide, despite having a production budget of about $291 million (as per Box Office Mojo).
It is one of the lowest-earning films of the franchise, even though it received quite favorable reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with a critical rating of 96% and an audience rating of 94%.
It becomes more concerning as The Hollywood Reporter revealed that The Final Reckoning has a potential budget of around $400 million. This massive increase due to production delays, and other setbacks associated with the strike could put immense pressure on its box office returns.
While Fallout has earned over $791.6 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), making it the most successful one of the franchise, Dead Reckoning‘s poor performance seemingly hints at the audience’s burnout. Paramount’s recent history with large projects also seems concerning. Since Top Gun: Maverick, this studio couldn’t maintain consistent success with big-budget movies.
Despite Simon Pegg‘s enthusiasm and the promise of mind-boggling stunts, the film faces an uphill battle to prove that the Mission: Impossible franchise still has what it takes to bring in crowds to movie theaters in record-breaking numbers.
Mission: Impossible 8 is scheduled to release in theaters on May 23, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What did Simon Pegg say about Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning?
In an interview on the podcast “Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum,” Simon Pegg said he had just finished shooting with only a day of pickups left, that he had already seen the film, and that it was “bananas, absolutely bananas.” He said what Tom Cruise’s character does in this installment “boggles the mind” and called it the best one in the franchise so far.
Why are some fans skeptical about Simon Pegg’s praise for The Final Reckoning?
According to the article, some social media users were doubtful because similar promotional hype preceded the previous film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, which is regarded as one of the lower earners in the franchise relative to its cost. Commenters argued that the cast tends to call each new entry “the best one yet,” so they worried the bold claims might again be overselling the movie.
Who stars in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and when was it released?
The film, also known as Mission: Impossible 8, has Tom Cruise reprising Ethan Hunt alongside Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Vanessa Kirby, and is distributed by Paramount Pictures. It released in theaters on May 23, 2025. The article notes its reported budget was around $400 million, described as the largest in the franchise.
