Most properties not titled “Marvel Cinematic Universe” do not make it past one or two successful movies in their franchise. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is the seventh entry in the Mission: Impossible film franchise based on the 1960s television series of the same name, and opened as the highest-rated film in the series on sites like Rotten Tomatoes. Returning as Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruise is joined by newcomers to the franchise Haley Atwell and Pom Klementieff as well as past costars Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ving Rhames. Dead Reckoning is the summer blockbuster of 2023 despite stiff competition from the likes of Barbie and Oppenheimer.

The term “summer blockbuster” is one that is thrown around a lot in Hollywood, but what does it actually mean? The term can be traced back to the premiere of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws in 1975, considered by many to be the first summer blockbuster. The recipe is pretty simple, add an A-list star or two, an all-star director, some incredible visuals, and a solid story, mix and bake at 350 degrees and there you have it, a summer blockbuster. In a world of superhero saturation and a lack of true movie stars, Mission Impossible stands above all others as the biggest summer blockbuster franchise. Don’t believe me? Read on. For argument’s sake, we will be primarily focusing on Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One.

Related: Vanessa Kirby and Hayley Atwell Dish on the White Widow Face Sequence in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Action & Pacing
Paramount Pictures 

Each Mission Impossible movie seems to up the ante when it comes to action sequences as the one that preceded it. Whether it’s a chase sequence through a sandstorm in Dubai, a helicopter dog fight above the Himalayans, or a runaway train in Austria. These films deliver the kind of edge-of-your-seat action that delight moviegoers old and young. Then there are the jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring stunts performed by Tom Cruise himself. In addition to Dead Reckoning Pt. One’s cliff jump off of a motorcycle into a free fall, is one of, if not the biggest stunts in movie history.

Cruise has held his breath for over six and a half minutes in Rogue Nation, HALO (High Altitude, Low Open) skydive in Fallout, and climbed the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The actor is not afraid of his own mortality and puts his body and life on the line for incredible sequences that make each and every Mission Impossible entry a must-see.

In addition to mind-boggling action, Mission Impossible films use story pacing in incredible fashion. For example, Dead Reckoning Pt. 1 is a nearly three-hour long film, the longest in the franchise, but in a blink of an eye, you would swear the closing credits are rolling. The way the story is paced out gives audiences a thrilling sequence and then just enough time to breathe and process it before it has moved on to the next thrilling sequence. It does so without sacrificing quality in its story, a true testament to the skills of director Christopher McQuarrie and writer Erik Jendresen. A summer blockbuster should allow you to indulge in your popcorn and soda, and lose yourself in engagement to what is playing on the screen.

Related: Mission: Impossible 7 Is Actually a Romantic Comedy

The Tom Cruise Effect
Paramount Picrtures 

There are only a few remaining true movie stars left in Hollywood. “Movie star” meaning that for the most part, it is the actor that drives the success of the film rather than the property being adapted or the story of the film itself. Tom Cruise is without a doubt one of them, having completely redefined his star image as an aging actor. He has been working in Hollywood for over four decades, and really began to build his movie star resume in the late ’80s with Top Gun. From there, the actor hit the ground running, literally running, Tom Cruise is an accomplished runner. Having amassed over $10 billion in the box office for movies he has been in, the star power wielded by Cruise is undeniable.

Credited by Steven Spielberg for “saving Hollywood” with the 2022 release of Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise pulled off back-to-back summer blockbuster dominance with the latest Mission Impossible and hopes for a three-peat, barring a continuation of a writer’s strike, with 2024’s Dead Reckoning Pt. 2. The recipe for a summer blockbuster mentioned earlier has been followed step-by-step to perfection by Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, Paramount Pictures, and the hundreds of actors and filmmakers attached to the projects. While Dead Reckoning Pt. 2 might mark the end of the franchise, the summer blockbuster legacy left behind will be remembered as one of the most entertaining and dominant ones in the history of Hollywood.