Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (Part One)

What’s it about?

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.

The facts 

• Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
• Starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson
• English, Italian, Russian, and French languages
• Runtime: 163 minutes

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

All Mission: Impossible films carry an M rating, but the content can vary, and tends to get stronger as the franchise goes on – our breakdown below is here to help parents and whānau decide what’s suitable for their tamariki or rangatahi.

Violence 

This film contains constant action sequences depicting frequent fighting violence and large-scale destruction where countless people are shot, injured, and killed. The constant risk of certain characters being killed may unsettle or frighten some younger viewers, but there is minimal blood.

Some of the strongest moments of violence include:

• The antagonist kills two men by throwing one out of a moving train and hanging the other with a rope.
• A man is brutally stabbed in the hand whilst trying to call for security and screams in pain.
• One man slices another’s throat after a conversation and blood stains the carpet.
• A torpedo hits a submarine, exploding and killing all its crew members.
• A woman is stabbed in the heart and dies.
• After two people fight on a bridge with sharp weapons, one is stabbed and killed.

Coarse language

This film contains some coarse language, with words like “b*stard” and “sh*t.” An F-word equivalent is used once in Italian.

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters
• What the M?! (Blog)