Franchisography

[https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/190-Final-Reckoning-1024x577.jpg]https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/190-Final-Reckoning.jpg Good evening, Mr/Ms. Listener. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us… one last time. In the fallout of Dead Reckoning’s muted release, a final (but maybe not so final?) Mission was given a greenlight by Paramount to finish up the story of the evil AI known as the Entity. But not wanting to repeat themselves, Cruise and McQuarrie decided on yet another tone (their fourth tonal shift in as many films): this time, the impossible mission was going to be treasure hunt. With the entire planet on the line against the ticking clock of nuclear annihilation, will Ethan and the IMF be enough to save the world? Or will the need a little help from friends old and new? Join Nick and Scott as they try to decide if this “one last” mission sticks the landing. The film? MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING. The exposition? Heavy. The underwater sequence? Tense. The reception? Mixed.  Become a Premier Tier PATREON [https://www.patreon.com/dgp] supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick & Scott! Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw [https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw] Dueling Genre Associate Producer: Matt Bennett Mark Ybarra Harley Winfrey

[https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/189-Dead-Reckoning-1024x528.jpg]https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/189-Dead-Reckoning.jpg Good evening, Mr/Ms. Listener. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us for the most expensive entry in the entire franchise. After the success of Fallout, another Mission was greenlit quickly with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie returning yet again. This time, Cruise and McQ had big plans to produce not one but TWO Mission films back-to-back that told one epic, globetrotting story. However, a global pandemic had other plans and after only a few weeks of production, the film was shut down as the world shutdown in March of 2020. Six months later in September, the film would take on it’s most important mission yet: restarting production by creating many (if not all) of the covid-19 protocols used for every live action production made during the pandemic. The arduous process would lead to the 7th Mission to be the most expensive in the series history, and one of the most expensive films ever made.  The film? MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING. The female characters? Distinctly badass. The box office results? Less than ideal. Become a Premier Tier PATREON [https://www.patreon.com/dgp] supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick & Scott! Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw [https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw] Dueling Genre Associate Producer: Matt Bennett Mark Ybarra Harley Winfrey

[https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/188-The-Phoenician-Scheme-1024x577.jpg]https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/188-The-Phoenician-Scheme.jpg We interrupt your regularly scheduled Impossible Mission with a bonus Scheme! After the unexpectedly contentious response to 2023’s Asteroid City, Anderson returns with a simple, crowd-pleasing comedy about the relationship between an industrialist who has survived multiple assassination attempts and his estranged daughter who is studying to become a nun. Join Nick and Scott as they return to the world of Wes Anderson with his latest film to hit theaters: 2025’s THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME! Become a Premier Tier PATREON [https://www.patreon.com/dgp] supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick & Scott! Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw [https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw] Dueling Genre Associate Producer: Matt Bennett Mark Ybarra Harley Winfrey

[https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/187-Fallout-1024x587.jpg]https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/187-Fallout.jpg Good evening, Mr/Ms. Listener. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us for the first direct sequel in the franchise and one of the greatest action movies ever put to film. While Rogue Nation was only a modest success, there was no other director that Tom Cruise wanted behind the camera on his sixth Mission than Christopher McQuarrie. After some mild coaxing, McQ returned to the IMF to helm the next entry with a focus on Ethan’s character and a plan in place to make a movie that felt totally different from his last film in the franchise.  The film? MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT. The director? Returning for the first time in the franchise’s history. The stunts? Un-top-able. Cavill’s fists? Fully loaded. Join Nick and Scott as they find a way to explain why this is not their favorite Mission film despite fully recognizing and respecting its rightful place in the pantheon of all-timer action cinema. Become a Premier Tier PATREON [https://www.patreon.com/dgp] supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick & Scott! Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw [https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw] Dueling Genre Associate Producer: Matt Bennett Mark Ybarra Harley Winfrey

[https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/186-Rogue-Nation-1024x586.jpg]https://duelinggenre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/186-Rogue-Nation.jpg Good evening, Mr/Ms. Listener. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us for the sequel that kickstarted a brand new era for the series going forward. After Ghost Protocol was another success, Tom Cruise turned to the film’s ghost writer turned Jack Reacher director to take the reins on the next installment. With a focus on the audience’s experience, the created 4 thrilling action set-pieces that would have them at the edge of their seat and built the story for the fifth Mission around them. Not only would the resulting film cement the creative team of the franchise going forward, but it would introduce a new female character that would instantly rival Ethan Hunt for the audience’s attention. The film? MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION. The director? Christopher McQuarrie. The vibes? Impeccable. Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust? Instantly iconic. Join Nick and Scott as they gush about the most underrated entry in the entire franchise. Become a Premier Tier PATREON [https://www.patreon.com/dgp] supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick! Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw [https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw] Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra