Mission: Impossible 7's Uncharted-Inspired Train Sequence Receives Rave Review from Co-Director, Prepare to be Astounded!

WARNING! Major spoilers for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One ahead.

The train sequence in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One receives high praise for its potential tribute to the popular Uncharted video game franchise. Co-directed by Bruce Straley, the film, helmed by Christopher McQuarrie, follows the return of Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) as he hunts down The Entity, a rogue AI threat. Among the film's thrilling stunts, the climactic action scene features a face-off between Hunt and Grace (played by Hayley Atwell) against Gabriel (played by Esai Morales) on a steam train that hangs precariously off a cliff, with cars slowly descending into the ravine below.

Straley recently tweeted a comparison between Mission: Impossible 7's final train sequence and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves's train sequence. The images in the tweet highlight the similarities in the overall setup of the train scenes. Additionally, both sequences showcase similar framing techniques, with protagonist Tom Cruise and protagonist Nathan Drake depicted in a gripping and precarious manner.

Is Mission: Impossible 7 Actually Paying Homage To Uncharted 2?

Although McQuarrie has not confirmed whether the train sequence in Uncharted 2 directly influenced the ending set piece in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, he has openly expressed his admiration for the game franchise. In 2015, when discussing the opening plane sequence in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, McQuarrie specifically mentioned Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception as a source of inspiration, as it features a similar cargo plane set piece.

Furthermore, it is not uncommon for directors to derive inspiration from various sources when crafting a film. Quentin Tarantino, for instance, has been quite transparent about his penchant for borrowing elements from other directors' works, boldly stating, "I steal from every single movie ever made." By closely analyzing films, one can readily identify direct references and tributes to the cinematic masterpieces that preceded them, as directors often pay homage to their predecessors.

The train sequence in Mission: Impossible 7 bears similarities to Uncharted 2, but it differs in many aspects and can also be seen as drawing inspiration from Buster Keaton's The General. From the entire context of Ethan's presence on the train to the contents of the train cars, as well as Cruise's character being accompanied by Grace, the sequence is independently remarkable. Regardless of whether McQuarrie took inspiration from Uncharted 2 or not, the train set piece in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One serves as an incredibly thrilling conclusion to a superb display of action cinema.