10 Costly Mistakes That Doomed Great Movie Franchises

This could be a controversial one seeing as though the Mission: Impossible franchise just chucked out one of its strongest entries to date earlier this year, but Dead Reckoning - Part One's underwhelming performance at the box office could be a sobering sign of things to come for the once-unstoppable series.

The fact the flick went on to become one of the most expensive ever made - largely due to the pandemic forcing multiple shutdowns - and Paramount's decision to open the seventh Ethan Hunt and friends instalment so close to the arrival of the global phenomenon that was Barbenheimer, ultimately resulted in the flick struggling to turn a profit.

Paramount are seemingly already attempting to distance themselves from the box office disaster that was Part One by reportedly moving away from the Dead Reckoning title altogether, opting for another name for their follow-up that has been pushed back from June 28, 2024 to May 23, 2025 (via Variety).

Perhaps Cruise and the gang can make a triumphant return in a few years time and get the still unquestionably pulsating action franchise back on track by avoiding some of the other big hitters that summer will no doubt have to offer. Or maybe keeping audiences fully engaged for eight IMF epics is simply an impossible mission too far for all involved.