Tom Cruise continues to dominate Hollywood as the star of record-breaking franchises, with Tom Cruise box office hits with Mission Impossible movies accounting for seven of his ten highest-grossing films. The release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning marks what may be the conclusion of Cruise’s legendary action saga, now among his most successful box office achievements to date.
Cruise’s Shift to Franchises Brings Unprecedented Success
Over the past few years, Cruise has focused primarily on blockbuster franchises, particularly Mission: Impossible, after early collaborations with filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick, Cameron Crowe, and Steven Spielberg. This strategic move has propelled his career to new heights, culminating in The Final Reckoning’s global gross of about $460 million and a place among his top ten earners. Since its debut, the Mission: Impossible franchise itself has generated more than $4.5 billion worldwide, solidifying Cruise’s legacy in action cinema.
Though Cruise’s future projects, including an upcoming film with Alejandro González Iñárritu, hint at potential shifts away from blockbusters, his association with franchises remains strong. The Final Reckoning, promoted as the series’ grand finale, succeeds both financially and as a cultural moment for Cruise’s fans and moviegoers worldwide.
Top 10 Earnings: Mission Impossible and Other Notable Films
Among the seven Mission: Impossible entries in his top ten, the sixth installment, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, is the franchise’s best-performing film, earning almost $800 million globally. To surpass Fallout, The Final Reckoning, which reportedly cost $400 million to create, would need a significant box office push. Rounding out Cruise’s biggest hits are his highest-grossing film Top Gun: Maverick, which soared to over $1.4 billion worldwide in 2022, and other non-franchise successes such as The Last Samurai (over $455 million) and Spielberg’s War of the Worlds (over $600 million).
The Mission: Impossible franchise’s staying power not only contributes substantial revenue but also keeps Cruise among Hollywood’s most bankable stars. In total, Cruise’s movies have amassed approximately $13.2 billion in worldwide ticket sales.
Directorial Vision Shapes the Mission: Impossible Series
Christopher McQuarrie, who has steered the franchise through its most successful era, directed the last four Mission: Impossible films, including Rogue Nation (earning over $780 million and Dead Reckoning with more than $560 million). McQuarrie has been Cruise’s trusted collaborator, shaping the franchise’s tone and narrative appeal. Prior entries saw other notable directors at the helm: Brad Bird brought Ghost Protocol to nearly $700 million in earnings, John Woo’s second chapter tallied about $550 million, and Brian De Palma’s opening installment kicked off the series with roughly $450 million worldwide. The only Mission: Impossible film not included in Cruise’s top earners is J.J. Abrams’ third installment.
A Star Studded Cast and Crew
Throughout his career, Cruise has worked with celebrated directors and actors. For the Mission: Impossible series, he returns as the iconic Ethan Hunt, while recent films have included performances from Hayley Atwell as Grace. Together, the ensemble and production teams have helped Cruise repeatedly capture the attention of global audiences, making these films mainstays in action cinema and cultural touchstones for blockbuster storytelling.
As Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning continues its box office journey in theaters, fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see if it can climb even higher on Cruise’s already impressive list of hits. Cruise’s sustained success with franchises demonstrates a unique blend of daring stunts, compelling direction, and star power that keeps audiences coming back, regardless of what direction his next career move takes.
