Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoningfinally released in theaters, and it did so to great success. Despite itsbox office competition with the Disney live-action remake ofLilo & Stitch, the movie managed a four-day domestic opening of $79 million over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Combined with overseas markets,the movie now boasts a worldwide gross of $206 million, a total that will only climb as it continues its theatrical run. As the title indicates,The Final Reckoningis slated to be the last chapter in Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) story.
Audiences will undoubtedly miss theMission: Impossibleworld, or at least this version of it, which has been active for almost 30 years. These movies were highly influential in the action genre, pushing stunt work to the limits and flaunting impressive budgets and scales. The series is also notable for its use of espionage and conspiracy plots, which are the narrative thread throughout their action-heavy films. Even asMission: Impossiblefades away this year,another franchise has a movie coming out this year that is well worth the hype.
YRF Spy Franchise Is Releasing Their Next Movie With War 2
And It Comes Out In Just Three Months
While it is not a Hollywood movie, this year will see another major action sequel with the release of the Indian movieWar 2.This film is part of the Yash Raj Films (YRF) spy franchise. While it exists within this larger universe,it is a sequel to the 2019 global adventure filmWar.The movie follows the story of a secret agent named Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) who decides to go rogue after a mission to capture a terrorist goes wrong. At the same time, Kabir is chased by another agent, named Khalid.
There is a new director forWar 2, subbing Siddharth Anand for Ayan Mukerji. It will have continuity from the first film in that it will also include Roshan in the lead role of Kabir. In addition,War 2’s cast also includes N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Kiara Advani. It isset for release on July 18, 2025.AWar 2teaser trailer was recently revealed, which established that Kabir will face a new enemy in this second movie. The trailer included action-packed moments including grenades, swords, and more in a preview replete with dramatic slow motion.
YRF Spy Franchise Has Grown Into One Of The Biggest Indian Action Franchises
It Began In 2012
In the years leading up to the release ofWar 2, theYRF spy franchisehas become one of the biggest action franchises in India. WhileYRF as a company was founded in 1970, its big action franchise began in 2012. This coincided with when the production and distribution group changed hands to be run by Aditya Chopra, the son of founder Yash Chopra, from whom the company gets part of its name.
Yash Chopra passed away on June 20, 2025, two months beforeEk Tha Tiger’s release.
The first YRF spy franchise movie was theBollywood movieEk Tha Tiger. This was followed byTiger Zinda Haiin 2017 and thenWarin 2019.Originally, these first three films were supposed to be standalone features, united simply by the fact that they were all action movies made by YRF. Things changed, however, whenWardid incredibly well at the box office. The movie made $67.1 million worldwide, $53.5 million of which came from India, with the rest coming from international markets.
This win encouraged YRF to make these movies into a cinematic universe, which was first united throughPathaanin 2023. BeforeTiger 3, it was the most expensive film in the franchise, but it also ended up being hugely rewarding, grossing $112.5 million worldwide, which is a huge total for a Bollywood film. Through this progression,the franchise has added more characters and major stars. For example,War 2will even add Telugu film star Rao Jr., who was previously in the Oscar-winning global hitRRR.
War 2 Would Be A Worthy Follow-Up To Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
It Has Some Similar Elements
Like theMission: Impossiblefranchise, the YRF spy movies have themes of action and espionage. While they may take on a different filmmaking style than the Cruise-led movies, these overlapping ideas still makeWar 2an exciting replacement forMission: Impossible, and audiences will only have to wait a few more months.
The Final Reckoningwill likely be the last installment starring Cruise, so many will be looking for a worthy replacement. Even with its release date separation from the firstWarmovie, it looks likeWar 2will have been well worth the wait.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Cast
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning follows Ethan Hunt and his team as they pursue a formidable AI called the Entity that has compromised global intelligence networks. With new allies and a haunting figure from Hunt’s past in pursuit, they must act quickly to avert a global catastrophe.
