The esteemed star Tom Cruise, alongside the talented director Christopher McQuarrie, is currently focused on achieving a significant milestone with their latest cinematic endeavor, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Their ambitious goal is for this action-packed film to surpass the remarkable $600 million threshold in global box office sales. Presently, the film has accumulated approximately $540 million, indicating that it has yet to outpace its predecessor, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, which was perceived as a box office disappointment. The latest installment carries the weighty expectation of recouping its staggering reported budget while providing a fitting farewell to the beloved franchise. Unfortunately, it has not succeeded in achieving these critical objectives, although it has surpassed a controversial earlier blockbuster featuring another iconic actor named Tom.
With an impressive international gross of $361 million, The Final Reckoning has managed to eclipse the $357 million international earnings of Tom Hanks and Ron Howard‘s Angels & Demons, which was released in 2009. By the end of its theatrical run, Angels & Demons concluded with a total global revenue of $490 million. In order for The Final Reckoning to reach the breakeven point, it must generate approximately $800 million globally, given its enormous reported budget of $400 million. In comparison, Dead Reckoning required about $300 million to produce and wrapped up its box office journey with a total of $565 million, falling short by more than $200 million compared to the impressive earnings of Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Additionally, the film faced stiff competition from the cultural phenomenon dubbed “Barbenheimer” and did not have access to IMAX screens for screenings. Conversely, The Final Reckoning did not encounter similar challenges. Although it received mixed reviews upon its release, it currently boasts an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, having been marketed as the grand finale of this enduring action franchise.
In contrast, Angels & Demons served as the central installment in its trilogy. Director Ron Howard and lead actor Tom Hanks likely felt invigorated by the substantial box office success achieved by their earlier film, The Da Vinci Code, released in 2006. This thriller not only captivated audiences but also successfully navigated significant controversy surrounding its narrative, ultimately grossing over $750 million worldwide. Following this triumph, Sony swiftly initiated plans for a sequel; however, unbeknownst to Howard and Hanks, they were about to encounter yet another wave of controversy. The production faced a significant hurdle when they were denied permission to film within the confines of Vatican City, a key setting for much of the film’s gripping narrative. The Church preemptively barred the film crew from shooting in the Vatican due to the contentious themes presented in Dan Brown‘s source material, which explores the ongoing conflict between science and religion.
Exciting News: Robert Langdon is Set to Return in a New Netflix Series
In a surprising twist, the official Vatican newspaper delivered a favorable review of Angels & Demons, labeling it as “harmless entertainment.” This installment received slightly better critical reception compared to its predecessor, The Da Vinci Code, achieving a 36% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The success of Angels & Demons led to the creation of a third entry in the franchise, titled Inferno, which was once again helmed by Ron Howard and featured Tom Hanks in the lead role. Furthermore, the captivating stories of the Langdon novels were adapted for television in the series The Lost Symbol, although it was canceled after just one season. Excitingly, a fresh series centered around the character is currently in development at Netflix. For those eager to experience the thrilling ride of The Final Reckoning, it is now playing in theaters. Be sure to stay connected with Collider for the latest updates and insights into this evolving narrative.
