Mission: Impossible – Fallout

What’s it about?

When terrorists plan to execute nuclear attacks on three different cities simultaneously, Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must do everything they can to stop the carnage.

The facts 

• Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
• Starring Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, and Alec Baldwin
• English and French languages
• Runtime: 147 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 film starts with a marriage ceremony where the happy couple appear to disintegrate after a nuclear bomb detonates nearby. The scene is brief and upsetting but turns out to be a dream.
• A hook connected to a falling helicopter suddenly hooks through a man’s skull, pulling him down a cliff. When his body hits the distant ground, we see blood smeared over the rocks, but it is blurry and not completely clear.
• Many policemen are shot and killed, including one who was already injured and unable to defend themselves. However, this turns out to be a character's imagination.
• Assassins crash a party whilst trying to kill two people. The pair fend off the assassins and escape by shooting, brutally stabbing, and punching them.
• Half of a man’s face is left disfigured after being burned by hot fuel from a helicopter.
• After being attacked, a man hangs another man and almost kills him.

Coarse language

This film contains some coarse language, with words like “a*s,” “sh*t,” and “b*tch.” The F-word is used once in frustration.

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)