Mission: Impossible 8 gears up as Tom Cruise nears his final mission, here's everything we know so far

Time of India

14-05-2025

The final installment of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible film franchise is on the horizon, and yes, it is just as explosive as fans would hope. Touted as one of the best action franchises of all time, Cruise's high-octane adventures are gearing up for one last ride in the chaotic world of global espionage. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is all set to hit the big screen on May 17, 2025, exclusively in India, where the fanbase for the franchise is nothing short of massive. The worldwide release follows on May 23, 2025.
The saga of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) began with him being framed as a mole within the IMF. Now, the story races toward its final chapter, one where Hunt must risk it all to save the world from a threat like no other. As the stage sets for his last battle, let's take a moment to recap how Ethan Hunt and the IMF have pulled off the impossible time and time again.
Mission: Impossible – A recap of the franchise that redefined action
Mission: Impossible (1996)
A high-stakes mission in Prague turns into a disaster, leaving several IMF agents dead, and Ethan Hunt falsely accused of being a mole. Forced to go rogue, Ethan uncovers the shocking truth: the real traitor is none other than IMF director Jim Phelps.
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
Ethan faces off against Sean Ambrose, a former IMF agent gone rogue, who is plotting to unleash a deadly virus called 'Chimera.' With the help of Nyah Nordoff-Hall, a skilled thief, Ethan dives into action to stop a global bio-disaster.
Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Ethan's attempt at a quiet life is cut short when he is pulled back into the field to rescue a fellow agent. But he ends up clashing with arms dealer Owen Davian, who endangers Ethan's wife Julia and threatens global safety. The mission becomes personal, and deadly.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
After a bombing at the Kremlin, the IMF is disbanded and Ethan is left with a skeleton crew. Going off the grid (again), they must stop nuclear extremist Kurt Hendricks from launching a war between the USA and Russia, and restore the IMF's name.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
Enter the Syndicate: a covert organisation of rogue agents led by ex-MI6 operative Solomon Lane. Ethan partners with the enigmatic Ilsa Faust to uncover and dismantle this new global threat. The mission ends with Lane in custody, but not for long.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
The ghost of the Syndicate returns in the form of the Apostles, hellbent on nuclear destruction. Ethan joins forces with CIA agent August Walker, who turns out to be a traitor. With the world seconds from devastation, Ethan does what he does best: saves the day just in time.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
The stakes are raised like never before. The U.S. develops a sentient AI called The Entity, designed to neutralise terrorist threats. But when it turns rogue, Ethan must prevent its activation keys from falling into the wrong hands. He fails, and a dangerous figure from his past, Gabriel, emerges with control of the AI. Loyalties crack, sacrifices are made, and Ethan's mission becomes more impossible than ever.
What to Expect in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
The saga now barrels toward its final reckoning. The Entity, once a tool for counter-terrorism, has become a free-thinking digital superweapon capable of manipulating global military powers. And it is in the hands of the ruthless Gabriel.
With the world on the edge, Ethan Hunt must go further than he ever has, physically, mentally, and morally, to stop the spread of destruction. Allies will return. Enemies will rise. And the very concept of the 'impossible' will be pushed to its limits.
The eighth and final chapter promises a high-octane, emotionally charged send-off for one of cinema's most iconic action heroes. One thing is certain, this mission is personal, and it might just be Ethan Hunt's most daring one yet.