DAILY DIRT: Ethan Hunt returns this week in what may be the movie of the year

May 18, 2025 | By STEVE EIGHINGER MRN MINISTER OF CULTURE AND DOCTOR OF LOVE

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Tom Cruise is back in theaters on Friday.

Daily Dirt for Sunday, May 18, 2025

Get ready for some zombies, too … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,287 of The Daily Dirt.

1. It’s only May, but it’s time for the summer movie season.

The first big warm-weather blockbuster hits the theaters May 23 and it will probably be the biggest movie of the summer, maybe the year. Here’s a quick rundown on the major films to keep an eye on in the coming weeks:

1. “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning”

The eighth chapter of the “Mission Impossible” series begins where 2024’s “Dead Reckoning” left off, with Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) searching for a lost submarine that serves as the source of a dangerous, weaponized AI. Release date: May 23.

2. “28 Years Later”

Set 28 years after the first film “28 Days Later”, the story centers on a man and his son as they leave the safety of their island community and uncover secrets on the mainland. You can count on more zombies, I’m sure. Lots and lots of zombies. Yes!Release date: June 20.

3. “F1”

Directed by the man (Joseph Kosinski) who gave us the quality action of “Top Gun: Maverick“ and filmed on location at Grand Prix circuits across the world,”F1” tells the story of a former Formula One driver (Brad Pitt) who is coaxed to come out of retirement to mentor a promising young rookie (Damson Iris). Release date: June 27.

Honorable mention: “Superman”. Yes, another Superman movie, but I’m always a sucker for these. This one introduces David Corenswet as The Man of Steel. The plot is inconsequential. It’s Superman. Release date: July 11.

2. Did you know (Part 366)

That at age 14, Tom Cruise enrolled in a seminary to become a priest. He dropped out after one year.
That all three of Tom Cruise’s ex-wives divorced him when they turned 33.
That Tom Cruise does not permit his likeness to be used in video games or for action figures.
That the term “zombie” originates from Haitian Voodoo, referring to a reanimated corpse.
That Oct. 8 is World Zombie Day.

3. Speaking of zombies, my favorite terms for the undead are “biters” and “hungries”.

Honorable mention would be groaners, stenches, lurkers. Or simply, The Infected.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – I learned this week that people who like zombies (or zombie-related films, I presume) are called zombophiles. I’ll accept that.