Tom Cruise Says He Wouldn’t Change a Thing About the

‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ is in theaters May 23

Tom Cruise. Credit :Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

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Tom Cruise attended the New York City premiere of Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning on Sunday, May 18
He told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview on the red carpet that he wouldn’t change anything about the popular action-movie franchise, which kicked off in 1996
“I really see what it takes to make these movies and what I’ve learned about storytelling [in] this particular genre,” the actor says

Tom Cruise is bringing Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning to New York City!

On Sunday, May 18, Cruise, 62, appeared at the N.Y.C. premiere of the eighth (and potentially final) Mission: Impossible movie at Lincoln Center alongside his director and collaborator Christopher McQuarrie. Costars Angela Bassett, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Tramell Tillman and Nick Offerman also appeared at the movie’s U.S. premiere.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE on the red carpet, Cruise reflected on his many years starring in the hit action-movie franchise — and said that if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“I did the best you can, and it’s representing all the efforts of everyone involved at that particular moment,” he says.

“I looked at it and I really see what it takes to make these movies and what I’ve learned about storytelling [in] this particular genre,” Cruise adds.

Tom Cruise attends the N.Y.C. premiere of ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ on May 18, 2025.Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

Cruise also spoke about Michael B. Jordan’s surprise appearance at the movie’s London premiere, where they shared a heartfelt conversation and a hug.

He tells PEOPLE it’s “wonderful” to see the Sinners star’s success. “He’s enormously talented,” he says. “He’s a great actor. He’s dedicated to his craft. I really respect him.”

“I love to see people do well in life,” he adds. “I’ve worked very hard to do all I can to help people, see them do well — filmmakers, actors. People know my door is always open.”

Cruise’s appearance at Sunday’s N.Y.C. event comes days after the movie received a five-minute long standing ovation following its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, May 14.

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The latest Mission: Impossible movie takes great care to wind details from films throughout the 30-year-old franchise into its storyline. The latest installment follows Cruise’s Ethan Hunt as he and his team continue the battle over an advanced artificial intelligence known as the Entity that has the ability to destroy the world if put in the wrong hands or allowed to run amok independently, which was first introduced in 2023’s Dead Reckoning.

Tom Cruise attends the N.Y.C. premiere of ‘Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ on May 18, 2025.Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

As The Final Reckoning‘s title suggests, the outing could be Cruise’s last as Ethan Hunt, though he was still declining to share any information regarding the franchise’s future during his appearance at Cannes.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is in theaters May 23.