There are Marvel Cinematic Universe superheroes.

And there’s Tom Cruise.

In “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,” Tom Cruise proves he’s the master of his own cinematic universe.

Forget the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).

Welcome to the CCU (Cruise Cinematic Universe).

“Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” channels the headline-rattling AI, mankind’s latest force for good or evil, in a rattling good story.

In “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,” AI is called The Entity, an all-knowing, all-seeking, all-controlling force to be, ahem, reckoned with. To the user interface beware. Cyber warfare at the stroke of the keyboard.

The Entity is gaining control of the world’s nations’ nuclear weapons capabilities. Only one man can stop The Entity. You guessed it: Impossible Missions Force (IMF) Agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise).

Ethan Hunt has the key, literally, a sort of three-dimensional cruciform, to unlock the “Podkova” module, hidden in a Russian submarine that sank under Arctic ice. Ethan Hunt must secure its source code, in an attempt to thwart The Entity.

In essence, Ethan Hunt is the Chosen One. The savior allegory, down to a Saint Christopher pendant around his neck, is invoked. He’s Superman for the 21st Century.

“Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” is a nifty action-thriller with several beyond-belief cinematic set pieces that will be analyzed and enjoyed by cinema buffs for years to come.

In one, Ethan Hunt must dive to the depths to find the Sevastopol, a sunken Russian submarine, to bring back the module. I clocked this sequence at about 10 minutes, with most every minute intense, thrilling and spine-tingling.

In another sequence, featured on the movie’s poster and in previews. Ethan Hunt dangles from a biplane in an aerial chase that rivals silent movie re-creations of World War I dog fights by aces such as The Red Baron (Manfred von Richthofen, 1892-1918), a German Air Force fighter pilot.

In “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,” if The Red Baron is Gabriel (a chillingly smooth Esai Morales Jr.), then Snoopy is Ethan Hunt (Cruise at his shaggy-hair puppy-dog cutest). I clocked this sequence, including cross-cutting with two other ticking time-bomb scenes, at about 20 minutes.

That’s the thing with “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning.” It combines the latest in high-tech gadgetry with old-school derring-do. It succeeds because Tom Cruise is providing the derring-do. And he does derring-do great.

We know Tom Cruise is legendary for doing his own stunts: leaping from, to and between buildings. In “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,” Tom Cruise outdoes Tom Cruise.

That’s the thing with Tom Cruise. If you’re a guy, you want to be him. If you’re a gal, you want to meet him.

Cruise is an absolute charmer. His wan smile, gleaming eyes and focused face dominate nearly every scene in the film.

“Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” has a superb supporting cast, with many returning actors, including Hayley Atwell (Grace, IMF agent), Ving Rhames (Luther, IMF computer technician), Simon Pegg (Benji, IMF field agent) and Pom Klementieff (Paris, former French assassin and Ethan Hunt’s ally).

There’s Henry Czerny (Eugene Kittridge, CIA director), Shea Whigham (Jasper Briggs, U.S. Intelligence agent) and Angela Bassett (Erika Sloane, United States president).

Director Christopher McQuarrie (Oscar recipient, screenplay, “The Usual Suspects,” 1996; Oscar nominee, motion picture, adapted screenplay, “Top Gun: Maverick,” 2023; director, “Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One,” 2023; “Mission Impossible: Fallout,“ 2018; “Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation,” 2015) manages the ensemble cast efficiently, using Dutch angles (tilted camera) to heighten the tension of each character and between characters. The action scenes are amazing with Cinematographer Fraser Taggart (Cinematographer, “Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One”) in charge.

The screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen (Primetime Emmy, miniseries, “Band of Brothers,” 2002; screenwriter, “Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One”) and Bruce Geller (1930-1978), who created TV’s “Mission: Impossible” (1966-1973) hits all the bullet points, so to speak, and tropes that “Mission: Impossible” is known for.

“Mission: Impossible” is known for its trademark theme, one of the most iconic in cinema, composed by Lalo Schifrin. You hear those repeated four-note brass and woodwinds flourishes and know it’s time for your next mission, or at least to vicariously enjoy one at the movies.

“Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” is said to be the eighth and final in the series. The epilogue by Luther (Ving Rhames) is a nice touch and brings the movie to an emotional conclusion.

Is “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,” the last “Mission: Impossible” for Ethan Hunt?

Based on the movie’s denouement when Ethan Hunt and his crew take a victory lap, or victory stroll, in London, I doubt it. This “Mission” is too good to turn down.

“Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning,” MPAA Rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned: Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13) for sequences of strong violence and action, bloody images, and brief language; Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Run time: 2 hours, 49 minutes. Distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” was filmed March 2022 to July 2023 and March to November 2024 in England, Malta, South Africa and Norway. The movie’s budget of approximately $400 is said to be one of the biggest-ever.

At The Movies: “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” was seen in IMAX at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16. “This film was made for you,” Tom Cruise says in a brief introduction prior to the movie in the IMAX theater. He’s right. See this film on the biggest screen possible.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, June 6 - 8: “Lilo & Stitch” continued at No. 1 three weeks in a row, with $32.5 million in 4,185 theaters, $335.7 million, three weeks. “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” opened at No. 2 with $25 million in 3,409 theaters.

3. “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” dropped one place, $15 million in 3,496 theaters, $149.2 million, three weeks. 4. “Karate Kid: Legends” dropped one place, $8.7 million in 3,859 theaters, $35.4 million, two weeks. 5. “Final Destination: Bloodlines” dropped one place, $6.5 million in 2,267 theaters, $123.5 million, four weeks. 6. “The Phoenician Scheme” moved up eight places, $6.2 million in 1,678 theaters, $6.9 million, two weeks. 7. “Bring Her Back“ dropped two places, $3.5 million in 2,425 theaters, $14.1 million, two weeks. 8. “Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye,” R-rated Japanese anime science-fiction film, $3 million in 1,085 theaters, opening. 9. “Sinners” dropped three places, $2.9 million in 1,518 theaters, $272.6 million, eight weeks. 10. “Thunderbolts” dropped three places, $2.5 million in 1,955 theaters, $186.4 million, six weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of June 8 is subject to change.

Domestic Weekend Box Office, May 23-26: “Lilo & Stitch” opened at No. 1 for the four-day Memorial Day weekend with $182.6 million in 4,410 theaters. “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” opened at No. 2 with $79 million in 3,857 theaters.

3. “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” $24.1 million in 3,523 theaters, $94.2 million, two weeks. 4. “Thunderbolts,” $12.2 million in 3,180 theaters, $174.4 million, four weeks. 5. “Sinners,” $10.9 million in 2,632 theaters, $258.7 million, six weeks. 6. “The Last Rodeo,” $6.9 million in 2,205 theaters, opening. 7. “Friendship,” $5.6 million in 1,055 theaters, $8.2 million, three weeks. 8. “A Minecraft Movie,” $2.9 million in 2,087 theaters, $421.5 million, eight weeks. 9. “The Accountant 2,” $2.6 million in 2,0o2 theaters, $63.6 million, five weeks. 10. “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” $845.251 in 1,508 theaters, $4.9 million, two weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of May 18 is subject to change.

Unreel, June 13:

“How to Train Your Dragon,” PG: Dean DeBlois directs Mason Thames, Nico Parker and Gerard Butler in the Fantasy Adventure film. Hiccup, a Viking, and Toothless, a dragon, fight an ancient foe.

“Materialists,” R: Celine Song directs Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal in the Romance Comedy. A matchmaker is torn between the perfect match and her ex in New York City.

“The Unholy Trinity,” R: Richard Gray directs Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson in the Western.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of June 8 are subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes