New Report Reveals Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible Franchise Is In Worse Shape Than Ever

A new report surveying Hollywood experts reveals a pessimistic outlook on the continued creative and commercial potential of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible franchise. Comprising eight blockbuster action movies starring the Top Gun actor, Mission: Impossible has grossed more than $4.7 billion worldwide and has become synonymous with Cruise's name.

Like in his other action flicks, Cruise is known for going above and beyond what most Hollywood actors would be expected to do when it comes to performing terrifying stunts as his character Ethan Hunt takes on various dangerous espionage missions. The most recent installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, was also a box office hit, grossing nearly $600 million.

However, this was not immensely profitable when The Final Reckoning's budget was eye-watering, reportedly close to $400 million. A new "franchise scorecard" report from Variety now reveals serious doubts about the future, as it assesses where all the biggest franchises in Hollywood (the MCU, DCU, etc.) stand.

The report reveals that Mission: Impossible's most recent installment did not see much change at the box office against its historic average since 2010 (minus the pandemic years, and taking the overall box office performance of 2025 into consideration): The Final Reckoning's domestic gross increased by only 16.4%, while worldwide saw a decrease of 2.1%.

More concerning is the state of Mission: Impossible's cost-effectiveness, which is at -50.5%, as the latest movie grossed around the same amount of money but cost much more. A graphic provided by Variety also reveals that Hollywood professionals believe Mission: Impossible's "creative health" and "commercial potential" are worse than those of the MCU, Star Wars, and James Bond.

Hollywood Experts Don't Think Mission: Impossible Will Survive Without Tom Cruise

The experts surveyed suggested that the reason for Mission: Impossible's financial problems is due to its lack of appeal to a younger audience. "That franchise is suffering from a generational divide," says one executive. "It was an older-skewing audience." The first movie starring Cruise came out in 1996, and arguably has delivered a tried-and-true formula for decades, with only the stakes changing.

There has also been a lot of debate surrounding whether there will be a Mission: Impossible movie after The Final Reckoning, and the experts believe that the story trying to pick up without Cruise would be a problem. They have a point, as Cruise's name has been a crucial part of the franchise's identity and marketing all this time. "He is the franchise," says another exec.

A screenwriter says of Mission: Impossible: "Its greatest strength is Tom running, but what happens when Tom can't run anymore?" A marketing exec weighs in: "It's tough when you have a franchise hung on a single actor. I'm just not sure how much equity there’s left in that."

What This Means For Mission: Impossible's Future

These comments are all very apt; however, there's no indication that another Mission: Impossible movie is coming anytime soon, as The Final Reckoning serves as a finale for now. If they ever try to revive the franchise, it will likely help to have Tom Cruise on board in some creative capacity, while they will need an actor with immense star power to take his place as the lead.

Some insiders speculate that the franchise could potentially branch into television again, following in the footsteps of other cinematic universes that explore side stories and new characters through streaming platforms. Others believe that a spin-off with a younger ensemble cast might breathe new life into the series, though it risks alienating loyal fans who primarily watch for Cruise’s involvement.

For now, the fate of Mission: Impossible seems tied to how Cruise himself chooses to engage with the franchise moving forward. Whether he continues acting, transitions into a producer-only role, or distances himself entirely, his decisions will shape the legacy of one of Hollywood’s most enduring action sagas.

Mission: Impossible

Created by : Bruce Geller, David Koepp, Steven Zaillian, Robert Towne, Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise

First Film: Mission: Impossible

Latest Film: Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning

Upcoming Films : Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

First TV Show : Mission: Impossible

Latest TV Show : Mission: Impossible