For almost 30 years, the Mission Impossible franchise has been the standard and staple of action franchises. From its initial debut in 1996, the Tom Cruise-led series has raised the stakes on stunts and action set pieces that have continued to marvel cinephiles across the globe. In their last outing in 2018, Mission: Impossible – Fallout climbed the ranks and has become the most beloved and best entry for many in the series.

Following a film such as Fallout, the question was not if the next entry would be good but how good it could be. As the years progressed and COVID-19 struck, anticipation for the 7th Mission: Impossible grew. 5 years later, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One has arrived and, as expected, is another successful mission in the best action franchises going today.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a mission that demands acceptance. A film that self-destructs into a dazzling action spectacle that not only shows off Christoper McQuarrie’s impeccable direction but a screenplay that does not shy away from its timely examination of AI and its consequences.

Dead Reckoning welcomes cinephiles back into the world of Ethan Hunt and his IMF team. The team embarks on their most unique and dangerous mission this time. They must track down a weapon that threatens the future of humanity, which ultimately leads to Ethan attempting to exorcise a demon from his past while trying to save the world again.

In a world that is currently embracing AI more than ever, Christoper McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen’s screenplay is eye-opening. While it may seem silly, the downright disdain for AI is evident. It’s more often than not a scary indictment of society’s current obsession with AI and an outcome that can lead to the removal of power from man and into the hands of an uncontrollable entity.

Along with an AI deconstruction, the duo’s script examines Ethan’s past and the triggering events that led to Hunt becoming an agent. While it inherits the Part One bump of asking more questions than answering, the screenplay adds intrigue to one of cinema’s most beloved action heroes’ past and eventual revelations.

To the shock of no one, Tom Cruise delivers once again. No man can run the way Cruise can, and no man takes the risks Cruise takes, and that dedication is on full display. We’ve all seen the jaw-dropping bike sequence in the trailer, but the final product is even better than advertised. A sequence that works on this stunt alone, it’s the context of WHY it’s happening that makes it one of the franchise’s top stunts.

Along with Cruise, Hayley Atwell is dynamite! Going toe to toe with Cruise, Atwell breathes charisma and a magnetic presence that stands out as one of the best character introductions in the series thus far. As expected, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Vanessa Kirby continue to show that they are staples of the series.

Esai Morales and Pom Klementieff bring wickedness to their performances. The duo evokes a relentless desire for carnage, removing all the essence of justification and principles.

If John Wick: Chapter 4 got the ball rolling for the Academy to finally include a stunt ensemble Oscar, then Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is the cherry on top. From its underwater opening to a sequence in Rome that brings love to the 1966 Volkswagen Sedan to a final act set to leave jaws on the floor, the film adds to the importance of stunts and practical effects.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One lays the groundwork for what’s sure to be an unrelenting finale. It’s a film that demands the theatrical experience and is set to be one of the most enjoyable films of the summer. Dead Reckoning is what summer blockbusters are all about!