Mission: Impossible 8 might mark the end of the franchise. Since its debut in 1996, the blockbuster series featuring Tom Cruise as super-spy Ethan Hunt has thrilled audiences worldwide.

Starting with the fourth film, Ghost Protocol (2011), Cruise elevated the franchise with daring real-life stunts, from clinging to a jet in mid-air to scaling the Burj Khalifa. These jaw-dropping moments have helped the series rake in over $4 billion. The franchise is already set to continue in 2025 with Mission: Impossible 8, directed once again by Christopher McQuarrie.

A recent report from THR indicates that Paramount is considering making the upcoming Mission: Impossible 8 the “final” installment of the series. However, Tom Cruise is reportedly hesitant to retire the character of Ethan Hunt, having previously shared that he hopes to continue the role for another twenty years or more. Whether this decision will be finalized remains unclear, as the movie has yet to receive an official title, trailer, or detailed marketing rollout.

Paramount may be contemplating this direction due to the box office performance of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. The seventh installment, released in 2023, became the franchise’s lowest-grossing film since 2006, revealing a sharp decline in returns. Although it earned a substantial $570.6 million, its high production budget of over $200 million meant that it likely needed around $550 million to break even. Despite favorable reviews from critics and audiences, the film may have only narrowly reached profitability.

Even if Mission: Impossible 8 does become the final installment in the Tom Cruise franchise, it could live on in a variety of ways. This includes Cruise’s future high-octane collaborations with McQuarrie, such as their upcoming untitled space movie, which will very likely capture the same spirit and approach to stunts. Additionally, after some time, Paramount may see fit to resurrect the IP in the same way that the original movie did in the first place when it adapted the 1966 television series of the same name, potentially even with a legacy sequel that includes Cruise’s Ethan Hunt.