What will this year bring?
In 2026, Akhil Arora’s movie reviews have travelled from Christopher Nolan’s take on Greek mythology to Ranveer Singh starring in a fantasy hate propaganda.
Lust Stories 3
The frustratingly derivative nature of Shakun Batra’s divorce drama, Kiran Rao’s contrived thriller complete with an unnecessary twist, Vikramaditya Motwane’s confused exploration of partner swapping, and Vishal Bhardwaj’s whimsical 1980s segment.
Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups
Instead of a gritty, remorseful gangster saga, Toxic is an exhausting 194-minute ego trip for its lead star, Yash.
Main Vaapas Aaunga
Desperately wants to build a timeless love story, but forgets to make its lead characters believable.
The Odyssey
A massive anti-war critique of the insatiable appetites of men and the erosion of trust.
Satluj
Its uncompromising visuals of dread and fear that establish the sheer horror of police brutality—including a scene that rivals Inglourious Basterds in pure tension.
Dug Dug
Doesn’t take its intriguing premise to the pinnacle.
Apex
Netflix’s dedication to making instantly forgettable movies is unprecedented.
Samay Raina: Still Alive
A self-aggrandising comedy special in which Raina projects himself as a victim and a martyr while throwing others under the bus.
Mardaani 3
The same flawed feminism as its predecessors, but a larger canvas to project it on.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge
Doubles down on everything that made the first film so controversial. The level of sycophancy on display borders on the pathetic.
Made in Korea
A lazy excuse of a film made by an inept group of people with no idea what they’re doing.
Subedaar
Anil Kapoor’s refreshingly muted lead performance and the film’s disguised social commentary do not make up for its tonal missteps and a frustrating lack of imagination.
Accused
An utterly misguided defence of a serial harasser, groomer, and all-around toxic human being.
Kennedy
A baffling narrative, vague rumination about corruption and power, and long stretches of inaction that don’t feel authentic to Anurag Kashyap.