The summer blockbuster, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, didn’t quite hit the heights expected of the film, but six months after its release, Mission: Impossible 7 has finally given Tom Cruise something to cheer about. Cruise is one of the most accomplished action actors in the industry and his Mission: Impossible series has been full of hits. Despite being around since 1996, the Mission: Impossible franchise has only continued to grow with the sixth installment becoming the highest-grossing film in the series. This set up big expectations for Dead Reckoning, expectations the movie ultimately fell short of.

Two of 2023’s biggest movies came out just after Cruise’s latest film, impacting Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’s box office, which led to disappointment. The movie still reviewed well, but it also had some weaknesses and the fact it is a two-part movie makes the first part’s weak box office all the more troublesome. While there hasn’t been a lot to cheer about when it comes to Mission: Impossible 7, its fortunes have begun to turn around. It may not have found the success it wanted, but Mission: Impossible 7 has now been recognized for some of its best qualities.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’s Surprising Oscar Nominations Are A Boost For Tom Cruise’s Movie

Despite the difficulties Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One faced, the movie has been nominated for two Oscars, which is a huge boost for Cruise’s franchise. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’s title may have been a mistake that lost the movie money, but it didn’t stop it from being nominated at the Academy Awards. Mission: Impossible 7 was nominated for the Best Sound Oscar and Best Visual Effects, which may not be the biggest awards, but are still a sign of the movie’s strengths. These nominations are positive signs for Dead Reckoning Part Two.

Oscar nominations are a great way to market the next film, showing that the first movie thrived in several areas. Other great films like John Wick 4, The Iron Claw, and Saltburn didn’t receive a single nomination, proving that Dead Reckoning at least has something worth celebrating. Sound and visual effects may not be the biggest categories, but this is still evidence that key elements of the movie were worthy of a nomination, especially as Mission: Impossible 7 wasn’t expected to make much of a splash at the 2024 Oscars. This gives Cruise something to celebrate regarding his huge franchise.

Related Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning ends on a cliffhanger setting up what’s to come. We break down the film’s ending & what’s next for Ethan.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’s Oscars Success Still Pales In Comparison To Cruise’s Previous Movie

Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 7 may be up for multiple Oscars, but it is still a far cry from his previous movie. Top Gun: Maverick tripled Dead Reckoning‘s nomination total, grabbing six nominations, including Best Picture. Not only was Top Gun: Maverick up for Best Picture, but it was one of the front-runners and won the Oscar for Best Sound. While Dead Reckoning could win more than Top Gun: Maverick, it looks unlikely the film will claim any awards. This would by no means be a failure, but it does show Cruise’s Top Gun franchise looks stronger than Mission: Impossible.

The Oscar nominations prove how important the actor is to each franchise and replacing Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two or Top Gun 3 would be difficult. He is clearly crucial to both, but the box office and Oscar nominations indicate that Top Gun is currently the higher-quality franchise. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One may leave the Academy Awards without any wins, but the fact that it has received nominations is a good sign for the franchise, even if it pales in comparison to Cruise’s previous success.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning is an action-adventure spy thriller from director Christopher McQuarrie. It’s the seventh entry in the Mission: Impossible series and a direct sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout. The title will star Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ving Rhames.