Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Christian Movie Review & Parent Guide will give you the information you need before taking your children to it. Be aware, while this movie is rated PG-13, it is very intense with non-stop violence and extreme action.

Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One 2023 Christian Movie Review

Synopsis from the Movie Studio:

In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

My Synopsis:

In this 7th Mission Impossible film, Ethan Hunt is called to another mission, but he is not just fighting the bad guys this time. In fact, he is on a mission to stop the Entity that is always one step ahead of him. This Entity is AI (artificial intelligence) programming that wants to take over the world. It seems to be able to predict what is going to happen.

Ethan needs to find a key which is called “the key to world domination.” When he finds this key, he is to turn it over to the US government. However, he realizes that every government wants this key, everyone is after him, and whoever gets the key will control the world. 

Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning – What Parents Want to Know

Language: 

There is not much in the way of foul language. However, there is the use of d-mn and g-d d-mn. Someone says, “What the…” and it appears they are going to say the f word, but are cut off.

Violence: 

Almost constant action and violence is present in this film. In fact, it is a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat almost the entire time type of movie.

The film begins with a submarine explosion and you see dead bodies floating in the sea. Next is an intense action scene in the desert with a dust storm and machine guns.

People are shot and killed, or stunned with a stun gun, or shot with tranquilizing darts. You see a man’s feet and legs hanging after he has been killed.

Additionally, there are excessive amounts of fist fights, knife fights, and discussions on war and controlling the world using AI. A man stabs another man in the hand.

Furthermore, there are extreme chase scenes through the streets of Rome involving cars, motorbikes, SUVs, and a huge armored vehicle. 

A person has their throat slit, and you see them lying in a pool of blood. Another person is stabbed in the heart and dies. 

Moreover, a person almost gets run over by a train. A man says, “Your secretary is no longer with us,” as a way of saying he killed her.

Of course, there is the obligatory running across the top of a train and fight that ensues on the roof of the train. (After just watching Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, I do have to say, I really appreciate the real action scenes in this film versus the CGI in Dial of Destiny).

But wait, there’s more….a train is careening through the mountains, and there are bombs set up on the bridge ahead. An intense survival scene ensues as characters try to jump from one train car to another as each car slides off the cliff. (This is where I laughed – watching these scenes was utterly unbelievable!)

Sexual Content: 

Some dancers in a nightclub almost look naked. However, they are wearing nude-colored outfits.

There is some flirting between a man and a woman, but both are only interested in getting information from the other person.

Spiritual: 

There is very little spiritual content outside the mysterious key with two parts. When both parts are placed together, they look like a cross.

The bad guy’s name is Gabriel. He is called the “Dark Messiah.” It appears his mission it to gain control of everyone and everything. He says he “sees death as a gift.” He also “predicts” that one person will die, and says, their “fate is written.”

Other Content: 

There is a lot of lying, deceit, stealing, and evil people wanting to control the world. One character is a thief and is shown with multiple passports with different identities. 

One character that is from the US government is found to be acting in his own interests.

Positive Elements:

Ethan values his friends and the people closest to him. In fact, he is willing to risk his life for them. In a passionate speech, Ethan says, “But I swear, your life will always mean more to me than my own.” Additionally, he seems to always do the right thing.

Another team member says that nothing is more important to him than his friends.

Viewing Recommendations: Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Christian Movie Review

I left the theater knowing that my husband would love this movie, and I did enjoy parts of it. However, it was just too intense with the non-stop action for me to enjoy it fully.

There are a few scenes where I laughed out loud (in parts that weren’t supposed to be funny) at the absolute absurdity of the scene. 

While the movie’s plot was fascinating, and Tom Cruise embraces his role of Ethan Hunt, be aware this movie is not for children. Several children were in the movie theater, and it pains me to see that. 

Before you say, “My child can handle it,” I ask you to consider the following. The pre-frontal cortex of the brain is the last area to develop in children and may not be fully developed until a person is in their 20s. Furthermore, repeated exposure to violent imagery can cause reduced functioning of the control center (pre-frontal cortex). This can create a reduced ability to control emotion and aggression. Read more about the effects of watching violence on developing brains.

About the Movie – Mission Impossible 7

Rating: PG-13 for Intense sequences of violence and action, some language, and suggestive material

Runtime: 2 hours, 43 mins.

Release Date: July 12, 2023

Genre: Action/Adventure

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Written by: Christopher McQuarrie, Erick Jendresen

Based on Mission Impossible by Bruce Geller

Produced by Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie

Editor: Eddie Hamilton

Distributed by Paramount Pictures

Cast of the Movie:

Ethan Hunt played by Tom Cruise

Grace played by Hayley Atwell

Ilsa Faust played by Rebecca Ferguson

Denlinger played by Cary Elwes

Alanna Mitsopolis played by Vanessa Kirby

Luther Stickell played by Ving Rhames

Benji Dunn played by Simon Pegg

Gabriel played by Esal Morales

Eugene Kittridge played by Henry Czech

Paris played by Pom Klementieff

Jasper Briggs played by Shea Whigham

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the big armored vehicle seen in the chase scenes in the streets of Italy?

There is speculation that it is a Hummer H2 modified for the movie. 

Additionally, Tom Cruise drives an electric Fiat 500 while handcuffed. Read about the vehicles featured in other Mission Impossible films.

Where can I stream Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning?

Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One was released into movie theaters on July 12, 2023. It will not be streaming at that time.

Where can I stream the Mission Impossible TV series and the first 6 movies?

Of course, since Paramount holds the rights to Mission Impossible, they have all things Mission Impossible, on Paramount Plus, including the original television series.

Can I watch Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning on Netflix or Max?

When Mission Impossible begins to stream, you can expect to find it on Paramount+ and it should be available to rent on Amazon.

Where was Dead Reckoning filmed?

Filming was done in Amsterdam, Rome, Venice, Norway, and Abu Dhabi. 

Do I have to watch the other movies to enjoy this movie?

You can enjoy and understand this movie without watching the other Mission Impossible movies.

Does Tom Cruise do his own stunts?

Yes, Tom Cruise does most of his own stunts. In this latest movie, he drives a motorcycle off a cliff and parachutes to the ground.

How Many Mission Impossible Shows and Movies have there been?

Mission Impossible Television Series: 1966-1973

It has been almost 60 years since the Mission Impossible series (1966) was created. This television series aired on CBS from September 1966 until March 1973. These 50-minute episodes showcased secret government agents and their special assignments. 

Each episode began with a taped message given to the IMF (Impossible Missions Force). The messages end with “As always, should you or any of your IM force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.”

Mission Impossible Television Series: 1988-1990

This continuation television series begins 15 years after the original series ends. Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) is called out of retirement and forms a new team. The series was short lived due to the time slot which it aired, and it never really caught on a second time.

Mission Impossible Movie Series:

Finally, the Mission Impossible movies starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. The movies began in 1996, six years after the last TV series.

Hunt leads his own IMF team. Because of the success of Mission Impossible movies starring Tom Cruise, there have been 6 movies before now. 

1996 – Mission Impossible

2000 – Mission Impossible 2

2006 – Mission Impossible III

2011 – Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol

2015 – Mission Impossible Rogue Nation

2018 – Mission Impossible Fallout

2023 – Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One

2024 – Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part Two