Dead Reckoning Part One is a thing of the past… (Picture: Paramount)

In a move that’s baffled film fans everywhere, the title of the latest Mission: Impossible film has been changed – months after its original release.

That latest film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part 1, was released worldwide in July 2023 to critical acclaim and was popular with movie audiences.

But with its release on Paramount Plus now confirmed for January 25, 2024, the ‘Part 1’ has officially been dropped from the title – the sequel, which was believed to be named ‘Dead Reckoning: Part 2’ remains officially untitled.

It’s a decision that’s stunned those who follow the franchise closely, but those who have been watching the Tom Cruise film’s box office performance think they have the answer.

Posting on X, Zoe Rose Bryant said: ‘If I had a nickel for every time a Tom Cruise movie underperformed at the box office and was later retitled after its theatrical run … I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.’

Zoe was referencing Cruise’s 2014 film Edge of Tomorrow, which later had its title changed to Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow after being released on physical media.

Matt Neglia also said, ‘Hahahaha, are they going to re-issue the film on physical with a revised credits sequence removing the Part One?’ while another jibed: ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning… Part One… of One.’

Due to its release coinciding with the height of the Barbenheimer phenomenon, Dead Reckoning performed under expectations at the international box office, grossing $568million (£448million) in total.

That total made it the lowest-grossing Mission: Impossible film of all time when adjusted for inflation, replacing 2006’s Mission: Impossible III at the bottom of the pile.

Judging by their comments after the studio’s move, fans now believe that, in response to its below-par performance, those in charge of the franchise’s future have attempted to boost the performance of the next film by removing the direct association with Dead Reckoning.

The film ended on a cliffhanger that many viewers expected to be resolved in the prospective ‘Part Two’, but it appears the eighth film’s title will be something else entirely.

It’s not the first time a Tom Cruise film has changed its name (Picture: WireImage)

It’s a theory that has got fans calling the move ‘cowardly’, while others criticised the movie makers for calling it ‘Part One’ in the first place.

It was unfavourably compared to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi remake of Dune, released in 2021, which was marketed and advertised as ‘Dune’ until the opening titles informed the audience it was only ‘Part One’.

Twitter user MadYoshi said: ‘I think the way the final film handles the “Part One” deal made for an easy Dune scenario: just don’t mention it (nor a second film being already greenlit) at all during marketing and you’re probably good to go.’

Dune: Part Two is set for release on March 1, 2024, with the Arrival director already in discussions for a potential third film, which would cover the events of the 1969 Frank Herbert novel Dune Messiah.

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It’s not the first time this has happened to a Tom Cruise film.