7 Easter eggs and references you probably missed in Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning marks the end of the franchise, with Tom Cruise taking on the mantle of Ethan Hunt for what may be his last adventure. The movie brings together decades of adventure storytelling in one massive ending. The director Christopher McQuarrie crafts a film that pays homage to the past, delivering new, refreshing thrills.

The premise of the film follows Ethan Hunt as he encounters a big challenge. An artificial intelligence named The Entity threatens humankind, and Ethan must stop this digital chaos before it destroys everything.

The film's runtime is almost three hours, with various explosive actions and plot twists. During the run time, the viewers may miss several hidden details. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning has multiple Easter eggs and references that will compel the fans to revisit the movie and its predecessors.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the writer.

7 Easter eggs and references in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

1) The Entity's historical montage opens with a series of highlights

A still from the movie (Image via Apple TV)

The opening scene of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning features a spectacular visual montage. The Entity shows clips from all the former installments of the franchise. Fans get to revisit the iconic instances across the screen in rapid succession. This part includes scenes from every film since 1996. Popular stunts and memorable dialogues appear from the beginning.

Additionally, characters like Benji, Luther, and Ilsa get featured prominently. Even small characters from earlier movies make limited appearances. The montage sets the tone for the entire storyline. It demonstrates how Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning weaves all the stories together, serving as both a celebration and a recap of the franchise.

2) The Rabbit's Foot connection reveals the origin of The Entity

One big revelation transforms everything viewers thought they knew about the series. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning reveals that Ethan Hunt accidentally created The Entity. The connection goes back to the third installment and the mysterious Rabbit's Foot.

The movie displays Hunt pursuing a threatening weapon of unknown origin, which the characters call "the Anti-God" throughout the film. The Final Reckoning explains that the Rabbit's Foot was an old AI system.

The original artificial intelligence eventually evolved into The Entity. The religious imagery makes sense in the film, with the connection established with Hunt. Additionally, terms like acolytes and the cruciform key tie back to the concept of "anti-god."

3) Owen Davian and Julia's callbacks heighten emotional stakes

Gabriel employs psychological warfare against Ethan in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. He references Owen Davian from the third part during a high-stakes confrontation. Gabriel additionally mentions Julia, Ethan's former wife from that movie.

The villain reminds Ethan of how Davian used Julia as leverage against him. For the unversed, Davian abducted Julia to compel Hunt to hand over the Rabbit's Foot. Gabriel tries to replicate this successful strategy in the new movie.

He threatens to kill Grace unless Hunt brings him a primary hard drive. The callback demonstrates how past events continue to haunt Hunt. It also displays Gabriel's understanding of Hunt's psychological weaknesses. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning utilizes this history to raise the emotional stakes.

4) William Donloe's Arctic assignment references the original film

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning marks the return of William Donloe from the first film. Rolf Saxon comes back to play the CIA agent who lost his job at Langley. In 1996, Hunt's break-in at CIA headquarters threatened Donloe's position and got him fired.

The new movie shows Donloe working at a remote Arctic research facility. He helps Benji, Grace, and Paris find the Sevastopol submarine coordinates. The Arctic assignment serves as his punishment for the Langley security breach.

This deal displays how the events of the former films had a lasting result. Donloe's exile makes perfect sense given his past failure. The connection adds more nuance to what was originally a minor character.

5) Briggs' true identity connects to Jim Phelps' legacy

Shea Whigham's character, Jasper Briggs, has a shocking secret in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. The movie reveals that Briggs is the son of Jim Phelps.

Jon Voight embodies the role of Phelps as the main antagonist in the original Mission: Impossible, the family connection explaining Briggs' hatred toward Hunt throughout the recent movies. Briggs carries his father's grudge against the man who exposed Phelps as a traitor.

The twist makes their eventual alliance even more dramatic, as Briggs and Hunt must overcome their family history to work together. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning utilizes this connection to add an emotional core to their relationship.

6) CIA briefing lists Hunt's greatest crimes

At the beginning of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, Hunt surrenders to CIA custody. The Secretary of Defense Holt McCallany reads a list of Hunt's past crimes.

The meeting references the CIA black vault break-in from the former film. It also mentions the Kremlin explosion from the Ghost Protocol and Hunt's infiltration of a CIA security briefing from Dead Reckoning. Each crime represents a crucial event from former movies in the franchise.

The Kremlin bombing falsely blamed the IMF for Kurt Hendrick's actions, and the security briefing infiltration displayed Hunt posing as CIA personnel. These references remind the audience of Hunt's illegal activities across the films.

7) Donloe's knife return symbolizes forgiveness

A memorable moment occurs between Donloe and Hunt in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. Donloe gives back the knife that Hunt left behind during the heist of Langley. The gestures display forgiveness for Hunt's past actions that cost Donloe his job.

Donloe explains that losing his job led him to meet the love of his life, and the knife serves as a symbol of their complicated history coming full circle. Hunt left the weapon behind during his escape from CIA headquarters in 1996.

Therefore, suggesting that Donloe kept it for many years as a reminder of that night. The return displays how both men have moved beyond their past dispute. This subtle character moment balances the movie's intense action sequences.

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning rewards longtime viewers with intricate references and Easter eggs. These references connect the entire franchise in meaningful ways. The movie brings Hunt's journey full circle while honoring the franchise's rich history.

About the author

Mannjari Gupta is a Listicle writer in the entertainment division at Sportskeeda. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and brings four years of experience in digital media, having worked with platforms like Pocket FM, Pepper Content, FilmyFiles, and BookGeeks.

Mannjari's passion for her field is driven by her belief that different genres fuel her imagination, enhancing her writing skills. She prioritizes thorough research and ethical reporting, ensuring that her articles reflect factual information rather than personal opinions.

Fascinated by powerful female-led empires, she admires figures like the Kardashians and Martha Stewart for their ability to redefine influence and build lasting legacies. If given a time machine, she'd delve into the Kardashian universe, not for the drama but to witness their ability to transform criticism into entrepreneurial success.

Outside of writing, Mannjari is a trained classical dancer specializing in Kathak. She also enjoys reading and relaxing during her leisure time.

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Edited by Mannjari Gupta