The digital release of the latest installment of the Mission Impossible franchise is set for next week, but high-quality copies of the film are already making rounds on numerous pirate sites. This premature leak follows the movie’s previous delay in theatrical release due to the COVID-19 pandemic and carries a notable Chinese connection.
Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” has faced numerous hurdles on its journey to the silver screen.
Production began just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, leading to multiple delays in the planned theatrical release. Despite these challenges, the film premiered in June 2023 and proved to be a box office success, earning over half a billion dollars globally.
However, just as anticipation for the digital release was building, the film encountered another setback. High-quality pirated copies began circulating on pirate sites, even before the official digital release date of October 10.
What makes this leak particularly noteworthy is its suspected origin in China. A full-screen mention of the China Film Administration prominently appears in the leaked copies, indicating a connection to the country. This adds another layer of complexity to the situation, reminiscent of the challenges faced during the pandemic.
The presence of the China Film Administration’s (CFA) logo in the leaked copies of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is a significant indicator of its connection to China. The CFA, overseen by the Communist Party of China, issues film screening licenses, which are typically displayed with an animated dragon logo at the start of films.
It’s important to note that there is no evidence to suggest that the Administration itself is involved in the leak. However, the presence of the CFA’s logo suggests a connection to China.
Furthermore, the leaked copies also contain hardcoded Chinese and English subtitles, adding another layer to the Chinese connection. While some releases are tagged as “KORSUB,” indicating Korean subtitles, the inclusion of Chinese subtitles further solidifies the link to China in this particular leak.
The early leak of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” presents a significant challenge for Paramount Pictures and director Tom Cruise. Unfortunately, containing its spread is virtually impossible now that it has proliferated across hundreds of pirate sites worldwide.
Coincidentally, the leak emerged shortly after the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) raised concerns about piracy issues in China. The film industry has long highlighted problems like illegal recording or ‘camming’ in Chinese movie theaters, which remains a significant source of online audiovisual infringements.
While “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” didn’t originate from China in a cammed version, its high-quality leak ahead of the digital premiere poses a similar threat. However, the inclusion of hardcoded subtitles may have deterred some potential viewers.
Despite the leak’s widespread availability, it hasn’t broken any records so far. Some users on pirate sites have expressed dissatisfaction with the dual subtitles, opting to wait for the official digital release instead.
