Time stops for no one, not even for the blockbusters we so dearly hold close to our hearts. From Christopher McQuarries' Top Gun to Mission: Impossible, it is not time that has bent itself to fit to the action packs these movies are rather, it is these culminations of storytelling that have adopted modern day contexts to remain relevant in the heart of the audience, to be relatable and reliable as fuels for the brain. 

Wars were waged when settlements had to be made to flourish, when disputes had to be settled. But in the absence of a political scenario fueling such circumstances, what do blockbusters do now.

Modern-day developments have very much replaced the understanding of fear in the human mind with other things. Where once 'war' would send shivers down one's spine, it is now the fear of being watched and tracked online that could worry us more. Christopher McQuarrie observes this shift in the paradigm, how cinema today tends to reflect that which itches the vulnerability of the human brain has changed from war to technology and evasion of privacy. "by 2019 people were aware of the algorithm and they were aware of the effect it was having...an anxiety about it that replaces the cold war...", he expresses to Josh Horowitz on Happy Sad Confused. 

This evolution reflects how today’s films, like Mission: Impossible –  Final Reckoning and , tap into collective worries about technology and artificial intelligence, mirroring the way Cold War films once spoke to fears of nuclear annihilation. Final Reckoning centers on the threat of artificial intelligence, an intangible yet omnipresent villain that can manipulate reality—echoing real-world concerns about digital security and the erosion of truth. The film highlights the ongoing struggle between technological advancement and the vulnerabilities it introduces, mirroring how Cold War cinema dramatized nuclear paranoia through tangible threats.  

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With premises that could turn one's world over, it is only fair for a part-take that is equally robust to do justice to a persona. And Tom Cruise seems to be in the question.

Tom Cruise has been at it for quite some time now, and the expertise that oozes from being onto something for some time that was evident in Cruise was witnessed by none other than Hayley Atwell. The Final Reckoning co-star to Cruise took up the job of acknowledging the sixty-two-year-old Hollywood veteran's prowess, calling him a "one-man studio". She highlights Cruise’s deep involvement in every aspect of filmmaking, from action choreography to story development, ensuring the highest standards without micromanaging. Cruise's navigation and Christopher McQuarries direction are what have given spirit to this impossible blockbuster. 

Blockbusters have evolved from reflecting Cold War fear to capturing today’s technological anxieties—demonstrating cinema’s ability to stay relevant by adapting to the zeitgeist. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning exemplifies this shift, channeling modern worries about AI and privacy into a gripping narrative. Tom Cruise’s commitment and McQuarrie’s visionary direction prove that even as time marches on, these films will remain both thrilling and meaningful.

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What do you think of the modern day fears that movies itch? Let us know in the comments below!