(Photo by Paramount Pictures)

The last couple Mission: Impossible sequels are among the best-reviewed movies of Tom Cruise’s career. Now the latest looks to join them, because Mission: Impossible – Fallout is getting raves from most critics. As of this writing, the sixth installment, which is again directed by Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’s Christopher McQuarrie, has a 93% Tomatometer score. This is just one of those franchises that has been consistently better with age.

Here’s a breakdown of the first reviews of Mission: Impossible – Fallout:

Is this the best Mission: Impossible movie yet?

The franchise’s best entry to date…Fallout raises the stakes and improves on its predecessor in all the best ways.

– George Simpson, Daily Express

The new film has shockingly improved upon the series in almost every conceivable way. It’s not only one of the best installments in the M:I canon, but one of the best action movies of the century so far.

– Conner Schwerdtfeger, CinemaBlend

Just when you think Rogue Nation may have been too tough an act to follow, Fallout takes it to yet another level.

– Fred Topel, Monsters and Critics

Wait, does it go beyond just best Mission: Impossible movie?

Mission: Impossible — Fallout is one of the best action movies ever made.

– David Ehrlich, IndieWire

It restores your occasionally shaky faith in summer blockbusters.

– Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

It raises the bar for every action film to come after it.

– Yolanda Machado, Sassy Mama in LA

What does this movie do for the franchise as a whole, then?

Fallout does nothing if not cement Mission: Impossible as the greatest franchise we currently have.

– Karen Han, Slashfilm

Mission: Impossible is clearly the best ongoing action franchise in the world. And nothing else even comes close.

– Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

Fallout also shows the franchise straining itself to stay vital and fresh after twenty-two years and five previous films.

– Jim Vejvoda, IGN

Just how great is the action?

(Photo by Paramount Pictures)

The action scenes are stupefyingly awesome. Mission Impossible: Fallout is a near overdose for the action junkie.

– Julian Roman, MovieWeb

The Paris set-piece is a car chase in the same way that Mad Max: Fury Road is basically a car chase.

– Helen O’Hara, Empire Magazine

Fights are visceral, and we feel every punch. The car and motorcycle chases leave us panting, and a dazzling aerial sequence feels like the visceral terror of falling out of a plane.

– Kimber Myers, The Playlist

A bathroom brawl between Hunt, Walker, and a key bad guy might be the best fistfight in any of the six Mission: Impossibles.

– Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

The third act is a thrill ride leaving you clutching the armrest to the very end… Every last second is stretched to maximum effect leaving you exhausted at the end.

– Alan Ng, Film Threat

You’ll probably leave the theater overcome with an urge to go jumping from building to building.

– Mike Ryan, Uproxx

Is Tom Cruise just immortal?

As I watched Cruise sweat and pant and grimace like he was on the verge of death, I caught myself mouthing the words “How is Tom Cruise still alive?”

– Angie Han, Mashable

McQuarrie treats Ethan Hunt more like a rag doll than a superhero action figure, letting his face turn tomato-red and his blood vessels pop as he screams “NONONONO!” during every close call.

– Matt Patches, Polygon

Fallout stands out as one of the most thoroughly-impressive physical performances that Cruise has ever delivered.

– Conner Schwerdtfeger, CinemaBlend

Unlike do-their-own-stunt exemplars such as Buster Keaton and Jackie Chan, there’s nothing generous or uplifting about Cruise’s jaw-dropping exploits.

– Keith Uhlich, Slant

Does anyone else have room to shine?

[Rebecca Ferguson is] electric when she gets her due, which is relatively often, as McQuarrie tries to work in a little something for everyone here.

– Conor O’Donnell, The Film Stage

Both [Henry Cavill and Rebecca Ferguson] match Cruise punch-for-punch in the action arena.

– Angie Han, Mashable

The real scene-stealer here is Vanessa Kirby as the White Widow.

– Jim Vejvoda, IGN

The supporting cast of Fallout are dreadful.

– Christopher Hooton, The Independent

How does the movie treat its female characters?

(Photo by Paramount Pictures)

They are presented as capable. independent women who are good at their jobs, rather than damsels in need of rescuing. In fact, they’re usually the ones doing the saving.

– Anne Cohen, Refinery29

The women of this world are given standout moments to shine, demonstrating their mental and physical acumen.

– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

If the camera pans across a woman’s body, it isn’t to check her out, it’s to show the capability of how she uses her body and strength, and she is given her own narrative, regardless of who she is to Ethan.

– Yolanda Machado, Sassy Mama in LA

What else is great about this movie?

It’s also really clever… McQuarrie layers character moments in the unlikeliest ways.

– Helen O’Hara, Empire Magazine

Cinematographer Rob Hardy (Ex Machina, Annihilation) does an incredible job, truly Oscar worthy.

– Julian Roman, MovieWeb

McQuarrie finds plenty of moments to favor the symphonic poetry of [Lorne] Balfe’s work over the rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire, enveloping the audience on another level.

– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

Does it leave us wanting more?

If the antics are as dizzyingly high-grade as Fallout’s, I eagerly welcome the next installment.

– Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

As long as he’s willing to keep running in movies as wild as this, it’s a pleasure trying to keep up.

– David Crow, Den of Geek

They’re only making the next one difficult by succeeding this hard.

– Helen O’Hara, Empire Magazine

Mission: Impossible – Fallout opens everywhere on Friday, July 27. Read all the reviews for it here.

