Actor Tom Cruise, as Ethan Hunt, clings to a small aircraft in a scene from “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.” Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

Could this be Tom Cruise’s final turn as Ethan Hunt? In what is billed as the “grand finale” of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, Cruise charges ahead like there is no tomorrow, clinging to flying airplanes and diving into the depths of the Arctic Ocean. Now in his 60s, the veteran actor shows no signs of fatigue, only finesse and relentless determination. Once again, he pushes the limits of human endurance, as if no place on Earth is unreachable for a man on his own.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the eighth film in the blockbuster franchise, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” directed by Christopher McQuarrie, opens on May 17. Following the previous installment “Dead Reckoning Part One,” Ethan Hunt and the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) are up against a new enemy: a sentient artificial intelligence (AI) known as “The Entity.” This AI, aiming for the annihilation of humanity, gains control over nuclear nations' servers to orchestrate a simultaneous global nuclear war. The film unfolds over 2 hours and 49 minutes of high-stakes struggle to neutralize the Entity.

Cruise, known for performing his own stunts, once again delivers jaw-dropping action. One of the new film’s highlights is a high-altitude action during a chase with a small aircraft. He clings to a spinning plane at an altitude of 2,438 meters, and even walks on its wings. Because the franchise avoids using Computer Graphics (CG) for action scenes, Hunt comes across as a super-agent, not a superhero. A harrowing underwater action set in the dark, icy depths of the Arctic Ocean adds a powerful cinematic punch.

As much as the action emphasizes raw and physical intensity, the film also nods to analog nostalgia. The Entity cannot penetrate systems that are not connected to the internet, making video home system (VHS) tapes, USB drives, and outdated equipment essential plot elements. The storyline where fake news spreads under the Entity’s control emphasizes the dangers of the online world and digital misinformation.

Throughout “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” there is a sense of closure befitting the end of a legendary action saga that has been a staple of the action blockbuster genre for 30 years since the first installment was released in 1996. Iconic sequences from previous installments are revisited in flashbacks, and longtime characters like Luther played by Ving Rhames, present since the first film, and Benji played by Simon Pegg, since the third film, return. In many ways, the new film feels like a tribute to Ethan Hunt, a shadowy figure who “lived and died in the shadows, losing loved ones for the sake of people who never knew his name.”

Originally planned as “Dead Reckoning Part Two,” the film’s title was later changed to “Final Reckoning,” fueling speculation that this could be the final installment of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise. Still, nothing is confirmed. At a press conference in Seoul on May 8, Cruise called it “the culmination of 30 years,” but left the door open when asked if this would be the last, choosing not to give a definitive answer.

(From left) Actors Angela Bassett and Tom Cruise, director Christopher McQuarrie, and actor Simon Pegg pose on the red carpet ahead of the screening of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” on May 14 (local time), the second day of the 78th Cannes Film Festival. AFP-Yonhap News

The new film became the first in the franchise to be officially invited to the Cannes Film Festival in competition, screened at the Lumière Grand Theater in Cannes on May 14, the second day of the festival. According to the Associated Press, the screening concluded with a five-minute standing ovation. “When I was young, I never imagined moments like this,” Cruise told the audience. “I’m grateful to have been able to entertain you with this series for the past 30 years.” The film runs for 169 minutes and is rated 15+.