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Dead Reckoning’s Box Office Disappointment Alters Final Mission

Sarah Parker Posted on June 2, 2025

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

As Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is set to be the thrilling conclusion of Ethan Hunt’s cinematic journey, the filmmakers aimed to ensure it would surpass previous entries in the franchise. Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie took on the challenge to address the issues perceived in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, which had resulted in disappointing box office returns. This ambition prompted substantial revisions to the narrative of The Final Reckoning, leading to a fresh perspective on the beloved series.

One significant shift was McQuarrie’s decision to craft The Final Reckoning as a standalone film, rather than a direct sequel to Dead Reckoning. This choice resulted in numerous modifications to the script, including the addition of new scenes and the exclusion of key plot threads from Dead Reckoning. While these adjustments were intended to rectify prior criticisms and cater to a broader audience, they ultimately left The Final Reckoning‘s storyline feeling less complete than it might have been.

Box Office Performance of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Prompted Tom Cruise & Christopher McQuarrie to Reassess The Final Reckoning

Creators of The Final Reckoning Aimed to Compensate for Dead Reckoning’s Underwhelming Performance

Despite the immense popularity of the Mission: Impossible franchise and the star power of Tom Cruise, Dead Reckoning fell short of box office expectations upon its release in 2023. The film, which garnered positive reviews and earned approximately $571.1 million globally, was still deemed a financial disappointment due to its production budget of around $291 million, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

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In a conversation with Happy Sad Confused, McQuarrie acknowledged the temptation to attribute Dead Reckoning‘s lackluster performance to the competition from the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, which drew audiences to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. However, he emphasized the importance of heeding audience feedback regarding the film and aimed to improve upon the elements perceived as shortcomings in Dead Reckoning, thereby avoiding a repeat of box office failure with the sequel.

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Transformations in The Final Reckoning Aimed to Enhance Audience Experience

Dead Reckoning’s Performance Triggered Significant Changes in Sequel Plans

McQuarrie disclosed that The Final Reckoning was initially designed to feature a non-linear storyline, showcasing pivotal scenes earlier in the film. This original blueprint even included an opening scenario where Ethan meets the U.S. President at Mount Weather, which McQuarrie claimed marked the true beginning of the protagonist’s journey. Ultimately, the director recognized that this approach did not resonate well with the narrative’s flow.

After some deliberation, McQuarrie followed Cruise’s advice to present the film in a chronological format. However, this strategy also proved ineffective, as the opening scenes referenced the Entity without adequately explaining its significance. Consequently, McQuarrie decided to incorporate a cold opening featuring the President’s message to Ethan, thereby reintroducing the Entity and enhancing clarity for viewers. Additionally, the director included a moment where Ethan directly engages with the Entity just days before he “locked [the] picture” to further elucidate the storyline and aid audience comprehension.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Removed Key Storylines to Enhance Narrative Flow

The Final Reckoning Omitted Crucial Subplots Involving Ethan, Gabriel, and Marie

In order to create a more cohesive and engaging narrative in The Final Reckoning following Dead Reckoning, McQuarrie aimed to reduce the film’s runtime from what was originally intended. While The Final Reckoning ultimately resulted in a longer film than its predecessor, certain scenes that were meant to enrich the story were ultimately cut. Although the modifications made to The Final Reckoning‘s storyline may have addressed Ethan’s struggle with the Entity, they also omitted other significant subplots established in Dead Reckoning.

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For example, the sequel largely neglected the backstory involving Ethan and the antagonist Gabriel (Esai Morales), which depicted Gabriel’s past actions of murdering Marie (Mariela Garriga) and framing Ethan for this crime. Since Gabriel’s actions were pivotal to Ethan’s journey into becoming an IMF agent, the personal nature of their conflict added depth to the storyline.

Furthermore, The Final Reckoning did not delve into Marie’s significance, her relationship with Ethan, or the motivations behind Gabriel’s actions. While McQuarrie did capture scenes that explored the historical context between Ethan, Marie, and Gabriel, he ultimately excluded them from the final cut, reasoning that their background would inevitably remain partially ambiguous regardless of how it was presented.

The Final Reckoning Was Designed as a Standalone Entry in the Mission: Impossible Franchise, Not a Direct Sequel

The Final Reckoning Evolved into a Distinct Narrative During Production

Ultimately, the significant alterations made to The Final Reckoning‘s storyline were designed to allow it to function as an independent film. Although the narrative continued Ethan’s journey to thwart The Entity, the objective was to create a narrative that felt cohesive and self-contained rather than simply a continuation of a previous storyline. Consequently, the film transitioned from its original title, Dead Reckoning – Part 2, to The Final Reckoning.

While this decision might raise some eyebrows, McQuarrie argued that, had The Final Reckoning been released in the summer following Dead Reckoning‘s debut, it would have retained its connection as the second part of the earlier film. Ultimately, McQuarrie contended that the delay between the two films, caused by Hollywood strikes, provided him and his team the opportunity to “let Dead Reckoning go” and repurpose The Final Reckoning as a standalone narrative.

Did the Changes in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Benefit or Detract from the Film?

While The Final Reckoning Provided Excitement, It Could Have Offered Greater Satisfaction

The theatrical presentation of The Final Reckoning showcased Ethan and his IMF team embarking on a captivating and emotional adventure as they raced against time to halt the Entity from orchestrating a nuclear apocalypse. However, the film ultimately fell short of its full potential, as it neglected to address the lingering subplots established in the previous installment.

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