Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible 8 defies US-China tensions, tops China box office with $25 million haul
The ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and the US have not resulted in any favourable outcome for Hollywood. China, with its 10,000 screens, is one of the biggest markets for a film in the world. Each year, several American films earn millions there. But due to the rise in mistrust between Washington and Beijing of late, Hollywood films have found it hard to find audiences in China. But that cannot stop Tom Cruise, of course. His latest release, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, has not only posted the biggest opening for a US film in the country this year, but also topped the Chinese box office overall in its opening weekend. (Also read: Did Tom Cruise just confirm the Mission Impossible franchise is dead? 'It's not called The Final Reckoning for nothing')
Paramount Global's eighth instalment in the action franchise earned $25.2 million across 11,847 locations in China during the opening weekend, the studio said in a statement. The film has become the top-performing US release in the country for 2025, surpassing Warner Bros Entertainment Inc.'s A Minecraft Movie which raised $29 million since its April 4 debut, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.
While the Final Reckoning opening is comparable to its 2023 predecessor, the latest film's performance stands out in a year when most US titles have struggled to gain traction in China. Minecraft opened with $14.5 million, while Walt Disney Co.'s Thunderbolts and Lilo & Stitch brought in $10.5 million and $8.7 million, respectively, on opening weekend.
Tickets for larger IMAX screens accounted for 19% of Final Reckoning's total box office revenue, IMAX China said. That marked the highest IMAX share ever for the franchise on both opening day and opening weekend, the company said.
The Mission Impossible franchise has always been a symbol of Hollywood's craze in China, with all films from the action series doing well in the country. In 2018 — when US films reached a peak share of the Chinese market — the sixth installment of the franchise opened to around $77 million in China.
But that momentum slowed after Donald Trump sparked off a trade clash during his first Presidency. The recent tariffs have caused even fewer releases and diminished returns. This was evident by the underperformance of Disney and Marvel films in China earlier this year. But MI8 seems to counter the current trends.
The solid performance of Cruise's new film, which he's said will be his last Mission: Impossible, suggests that Hollywood pictures have withstood rising tensions between the world's two largest economies. In April, Beijing said it would 'moderately reduce' the number of US films allowed into the market as part of a broader response to trade friction. While initial negotiations between Washington and Beijing began shortly after, talks have since stalled.
IMAX China said its upcoming slate features several high-profile releases, including the fantasy epic How to Train Your Dragon by DreamWorks Animation and dinosaur adventure Jurassic World: Rebirth by Comcast Corp.'s Universal Pictures, as well as Warner Bros.' Superman.
(With Bloomberg inputs)
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