‘The Odyssey’ Star John Leguizamo Roasts ‘Mission: Impossible’ Movie in Speech

Awards-night speeches typically revolve around thank-yous and acknowledgments of agents. However, the Critics Choice Association’s Celebración of Cinema & Television, which honors Latino and Hispanic talent in the industry, offers a unique platform where honorees often speak candidly. The sixth annual event took place on October 2 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.

John Leguizamo was the highlight of the evening, receiving the Career Achievement Award for his impressive career spanning over four decades. The CCA also recognized his recent performance in ‘The Odyssey,’ which achieved the largest live-action opening weekend of the year and has surpassed $1 billion globally. Inde Navarrette was awarded the Breakthrough Actress Award for her work in film.

During his speech, Leguizamo made a remark that stirred conversation among attendees. Variety shared a video of his speech on X, where he referred to ‘Mission: Impossible — Reckoning’ as a “bomb so expensive they teach it in business school.” This clip has garnered over a million views since its release.

John Leguizamo calls “Mission: Impossible — Reckoning” a “bomb so expensive they teach it in business school.”

via The Critics Choice Association’s 6th Annual Celebración Of Cinema & Television pic.twitter.com/Z7NLXqG8sW

— Variety (@Variety) October 2, 2026

Netflix Junkie interpreted the jab as a reference to ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.’ Leguizamo also mentioned other notable flops, including ‘Ishtar’ and ‘Waterworld.’ However, his critique served a larger purpose.

Leguizamo emphasized the importance of fairness in the industry. He argued that if filmmakers can create a well-known flop and still find work shortly after, that represents equity, which he believes should mean second chances rather than accolades. He also shared advice from filmmaker Tracy Layman about being a light and a mirror that reflects positivity onto others. For Leguizamo, storytelling is his voice, and his ultimate goal is for every Latin child in the country to see themselves represented on screen.

According to Variety, he also directed a message towards Paramount’s David Ellison, stating that the industry belongs in Los Angeles and urging the studio chief to consider the needs of Americans and the industry. The audience was filled with individuals who share this concern.

Regarding the film itself, the financials support part of Leguizamo’s joke. ‘Dead Reckoning Part One’ had a gross budget of $291 million, or $220 million net, and earned $571.1 million worldwide. While it became the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2023, it was still viewed as a disappointment in relation to its budget, despite receiving critical acclaim.

The sequel, ‘The Final Reckoning,’ had an even higher estimated production budget of $300 million to $400 million and grossed $598.8 million globally, also deemed a box office disappointment. However, it did achieve the largest opening weekend of the franchise at $79 million and holds an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

When looking at the franchise as a whole, the eight films have generated $4.74 billion against a combined budget of $1.5 billion. This financial success puts Leguizamo’s comment into perspective, suggesting it was more about the high costs of production than the franchise’s overall performance.

The timing of his remarks is also significant, coinciding with the release of Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger,’ which opened to a modest start, projected to earn around $10 million—his lowest opening in 19 years. The industry will be watching closely to see if Hollywood’s famous second chances apply to a star of Cruise’s caliber.

For Leguizamo, the roast served as a platform to advocate for opportunity. Judging by the online reaction, his joke resonated almost as strongly as his message.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!