Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning first reactions call it an ‘exhilarating’ action film with ‘A+ Tom Cruise’ performance

“Dead Reckoning Part One is another winner for the franchise. Yet again, the production value is THROUGH THE ROOF with some of the most well-defined and exhilarating set pieces photographed in ways that truly make you feel like you’re in the middle of the action. The emphasis on capturing things on camera makes a HUGE difference, and you can feel it. Also really dug the mission this time around and how the technology they’re after factors into the characters’ individual arcs,” Collider’s Perri Nemiroff wrote.

“Tom Cruise is A+ as always and Rebecca Ferguson continues to be a favourite, but franchise newcomer Hayley Atwell wound up being the MAJOR standout for me. She can do it all. Action, comedy, a capable hero in many respects while trying to get her sea legs in others. One of the most captivating performances/arcs, and just a hugely enjoyable character to watch. She’s got a scene with Tom that involves a Fiat 500 that truly had me in tears I was laughing so much. One more set piece shoutout — there’s a particular scene within the sequence on the train that had my jaw on the floor. 2 hours and 43 minutes that I will happily watch over and over,” the critic added.

Calling Dead Reckoning Part One “phenomenal”, Screenrant’s Joe Deckelmeier said: “Hayley Atwell steals every scene she’s in.”

#MissionImpossibleDeadReckoning this phenomenal! Hayley Atwell STEALS ever scene she’s in. This is now my favorite #missionimpossible film. With the AI being the villain, this feels like a cautionary tale. The action had my heart rate elevated. That train scene is mind blowing! pic.twitter.com/raHLqTwqEO

— Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) June 19, 2023

Indiewire’s Kate Erbland noted that the flick “does the best job yet of recent ‘part 1 of 2!!’ features in feeling like its own film while setting up for the next half.”

Mike Ryan of Uproxx pointed out that the film “works as Christopher McQuarrie’s ambitious examination of/meditation on AI and the dangerous path we might be on.”

Due to Tom Cruise’s meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the highly anticipated gala screening experienced a delay of over 90 minutes, leading to frustration among the audience. However, as soon as the actor, accompanied by director Christopher McQuarrie and a large contingent of the film’s ensemble, finally arrived at the Auditorium della Conciliazione, the crowd erupted in joyful cheers, warmly welcoming the star.

I had the absolute best time watching #MissionImpossible – an impeccably made action film that does not stop entertaining. Each action sequence is long, crazy & intense. The story is big & sprawling, but I like how it both felt complete & left you dying for what comes next pic.twitter.com/iNaKlDMH8l

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) June 19, 2023

Dead Reckoning Part One follows the events of Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) and also stars Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Czerny, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Cary Elwes, Rob Delaney, Indira Varma, Shea Whigham, Mark Gatiss, Esai Morales and Charles Parnell alongside Cruise.

According to Simon Pegg, the film’s core is the collaborative energy between Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, which began in 2011 with Ghost Protocol on which McQuarrie served as an uncredited writer. “It’s become a kind of self-perpetuating evolving relationship where they’ve just egged each other on and challenged each other to move the story forward; to increase the scale; increase the ambition,” Pegg told Variety.