Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning with Tom Cruise gets standing ovation in Cannes, but critics divided

Dubai: The world premiere of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two lit up the Cannes red carpet with thunderous applause and a standing ovation—but critics didn’t all sign up for the ride.

Last night’s screening of the eighth installment in the blockbuster franchise delivered Tom Cruise in full throttle: sprinting, leaping, diving into icy oceans, and even battling evil in his underpants. But despite the crowd’s adulation, not everyone was impressed.

“Viewers should’ve been warned,” wrote one critic. “This movie takes nearly three hours to self-destruct.”

The plot? Barely five seconds long: Ethan Hunt (Cruise) saves the world. Again. This time, the villain is a rogue AI called “The Entity”—a timely nod to real-world tech fears—but critics say the film collapses under its bloated runtime and self-importance.

Cruise, now 62, delivers death-defying stunts—biplanes, submarines, and near-naked hand-to-hand combat—but even his legendary physicality couldn’t distract some from the film’s draggy pace and overcooked dialogue. “It could lose half an hour just by trimming the number of times we’re told the world’s on the edge of disaster,” one review deadpanned.

BBC described the film as a "miserable, apocalyptic tract" and "the feel-bad film of the summer," criticising its gloomy tone and lack of escapism, while Vulture labeled it "a huge mess," noting that the film overwhelms with solemn voiceovers and montages, diverging from the franchise's earlier, more self-contained installments. But not all reviews were scathing.

The Guardian in its review described the film as a "thrilling eighth installment" and a "spectacular send-off" for Ethan Hunt, highlighting its sensational aerial sequences and Cruise’s commitment to performing his own stunts. The Independent called it a "a massive Tom Cruise ego trip" but added, "I absolutely adored it," emphasising the film's exhilarating action and Cruise's dedication to real, tangible spectacle.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film boasts a reported budget of £300 million (Dh1.46 billion), putting it among the most expensive movies ever made.

But whether that investment pays off critically remains up in the air.

There are flashes of the classic M:I brilliance, with Hayley Atwell returning as the slick pickpocket Grace, and Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames reprising their comic relief roles. But even nostalgia couldn’t fully rescue this mission.

In the end, the applause may have echoed through the Palais des Festivals—but so did the groans. The franchise might be running on fumes, even if Cruise refuses to slow down.