War 2 Review: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s Explosive Face-Off Falls Flat in a Flashy, Flawed Spy Thriller!

Digital Bookish
6 days ago
2 min read

Introduction

Two men stand back-to-back with serious expressions, holding weapons. Helicopters fly in a blue sky background, creating a tense mood.

War 2, released on August 14, 2025, is the sixth YRF Spy Universe film, directed by Ayan Mukerji and starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani. With a ₹300-400 crore budget, it promised high-octane action but has mixed reviews for its weak plot and VFX. Grossing ₹41.78 crore net in India and ₹60 crore worldwide, it trailed Coolie’s ₹150-170 crore. This review analyzes its narrative, performances, and reception, based on sources and X posts as of August 15, 2025.

Plot Synopsis

Kabir (Hrithik Roshan), a rogue ex-RAW agent, kills Colonel Luthra (Ashutosh Rana) for the Kali cartel, targeting India’s PM. RAW’s Vikram (Jr NTR) and Kavya (Kiara Advani) pursue him across global locales. The 173-minute plot, with excessive flashbacks and twists, confuses and lacks depth, per The Hindu and India Today.

Performances

Hrithik Roshan: Electrifies as Kabir with action and charisma (Times Now).
Jr NTR: Shines in his Bollywood debut, though limited by the script (Filmy Focus).
Kiara Advani: Fierce but sidelined (Onmanorama).
Supporting Cast: Anil Kapoor and Ashutosh Rana are solid; cameos excite (News18).

Technical Aspects

Cinematography: Stunning visuals by Benjamin Jasper (High On Films).
Action: Thrilling first half, repetitive later (Filmy Focus).
VFX: Poor CGI criticized as “video game cutscenes” (Indian Express, @viralnerve).Music: Pritam’s soundtrack underwhelms; background score adds urgency (Hindustan Times).
Editing: Bloated 173-minute runtime drags (Times of India).

Box Office

War 2 earned ₹41.78 crore net in India, trailing Coolie’s ₹65 crore (Indian Express). A ₹150 crore weekend is projected (News18).

Reception

Critics gave mixed reviews:

Indian Express (1.5/5): “Glossy snooze-fest.”
Times of India (3/5): Praised action, criticized pacing.
News18: Fans called it a “2025 blockbuster.”Fans on X were divided, with @SDM_official1 rating it 5/5 and @AsliShiva calling it “pathetic.”

Conclusion

War 2 shines with Hrithik-NTR chemistry and action but falters with a weak plot, poor VFX, and long runtime. A one-time watch for action fans, it’s a letdown in the Spy Universe.