Blockbuster Spy Thriller to Premiere Out of Competition on May 14
Tom Cruise is returning to the Croisette as Paramount Pictures officially confirms that Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The film will screen out of competition on May 14, ahead of its worldwide theatrical release later that month.
This marks the third Cannes appearance for Cruise, following his 1992 showing for Far and Away and the 2022 world premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, where he also received an honorary Palme d’Or and delivered a widely praised masterclass on the art of action filmmaking.
Final Chapter in Cruise’s Mission Franchise
Directed and co-written by Christopher McQuarrie, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning represents the eighth and final installment of the long-running spy saga, which began in 1996 and transformed Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, into a cinematic icon. The new film is expected to wrap up the ongoing storyline introduced in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning (2023), promising a high-octane farewell packed with death-defying stunts and emotional stakes.
According to the official Cannes press release, “After nearly three decades of espionage, betrayals, and globe-spanning missions, Ethan Hunt asks you to trust him one last time. The Final Reckoning delivers the franchise’s most breathtaking experience yet.”
Star-Studded Ensemble Returns
Cruise will be joined by a returning cast of franchise veterans and new additions, including Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Angela Bassett, and Mariela Garriga. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on May 21 in France and May 23 in the U.S.
McQuarrie and Cruise, who have collaborated on multiple entries in the franchise, will both attend the Cannes screening, making it one of the festival’s most anticipated red carpet events.
Leaked Cannes Plans Now Official
Speculation around the film’s Cannes premiere began in February, when industry insiders hinted that Paramount was in talks to debut the title at the prestigious French festival. With the official confirmation, the Mission: Impossible franchise joins a growing list of high-profile titles headed to Cannes 2025.
The full festival lineup is expected to be revealed on Thursday, April 11, with major films from directors like Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Kristen Stewart, Spike Lee, and Jim Jarmusch reportedly also in contention for Cannes debuts, according to Variety.
A Cinematic Farewell Worthy of the Big Screen
Cruise’s commitment to practical stunts and IMAX-scale storytelling has helped cement Mission: Impossible as one of the most critically acclaimed and consistently successful action franchises in modern cinema. With The Final Reckoning, the series is expected to end on a high note, blending heart-pounding action with a grand narrative payoff.
Fans can expect Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning to be not only a summer blockbuster highlight but also a significant moment in modern action cinema.