Tom Cruise’s ‘Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ Receives Five-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes

Tom Cruise's much-awaited movie, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, was greeted with a record five-minute standing ovation, a testament to the star's commitment to doing jaw-dropping, practical stunts in front of the camera.

The Cannes premiere was a big event, dominated by an almost 40-piece orchestra performing the franchise's iconic theme music as the patrons settled in, according to variety.com reports.

As much as the audience was entertained by the film's breathtaking special effects, the movie's long duration made others tired. A few audience members quietly walked out of the Palais just before the climax, which featured Cruise's death-defying acrobatics.

In the film, the 62-year-old actor performs an incredible three-minute knife fight on a submarine, wearing only boxer shorts, and an stunning underwater scene.

Throughout the standing ovation, Cruise put his hand on his heart and nodded in appreciation to the audience. Both he and director Christopher McQuarrie hugged and thanked co-actors Zoe Saldana and Marco Perego-Saldana.

Throughout applause, the camera panned across the large cast, with Simon Pegg, Angela Bassett, and Hayley Atwell visible.

McQuarrie spoke to the crowd, stating, "This response is why we do it. You are why we do it. The big screen experience is why we do it." His words, which in the end lasted longer than the ovation itself, went on with sincere gratitude.

"Thank you all for coming and supporting us. I want to thank this phenomenal cast — when I say how phenomenal they are, it wasn't just arriving at work every day. This film was produced during a pandemic and two strikes in the industry."

"These two movies were produced over seven years of uncertainty, a lot of lacunae in between their belief and hard work, their commitment, their blind faith to this. This movie would not be possible if it were not for the hard work of every single one of these individuals standing here. It's the most unbelievable cast on earth."

Looking at Cruise, McQuarrie went on, "Growing up, I was a misfit and a lot of my childhood was make-believe play. I got to become a grown-up and have my own action figure."

Cruise agreed with his sentiments, stating, "To be here in Cannes and to have these moments — I mean as a child when we were growing up, I really can't even imagine something like this occurring."

"I think McQ summed it up, I'm just so thankful for 30 years to be able to share this franchise with you."

Addressing McQuarrie, Cruise said, "Thank you, my friend. Every step along the way what you've done and the way you've grown it — it just surpassed our expectations. Looking forward to making a bunch of other type of movies with you, I can't wait."