First ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning’ reactions suggest AI was the perfect foe for the film

Warning: this article contains spoilers for Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One

The world premiere of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One took place in Rome on Monday night, and while the Tom Cruise film received some praise, viewers were shocked to learn who the next big bad in this spy action film is.

The first part of this next Mission Impossible chapter teased a brand new weapon that Ethan Hunt needs to track down which could destroy the world, if used. While the premise was vague and mysterious, fans were shocked to discover that this new threat that’s a danger to humanity is artificial intelligence.

Uproxx writer, Mike Ryan claimed on Twitter that the film is an “examination of/meditation on AI and the dangerous path we might be on.”

This idea of Man vs. AI for the next Mission Impossible film had fans conflicted. On one hand, it was a good cautionary tale, like other films that have told “man vs. robot” stories. However, they found it absurd that the Mission Impossible filmmakers looked towards AI as the next big bad for this film franchise. However, the resounding sentiment from fans was that the new foe elevated the film due to current events.

As of writing, official reviews have not yet been released. But based on the mixed reactions among viewers and critics who have seen the film, it will be interesting to see if it lives up to the same standard that Mission Impossible: Fallout set back in 2018.

If you’re keen to see an action-packed commentary on AI, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One is scheduled to come out in theaters on July 12, 2023.