Mirzapur: The Movie Reviews: Critics Praise the Bhaukaal, Question the Runtime
The wait is finally over for fans of the Mirzapur universe. Mirzapur: The Movie arrived in cinemas on September 4, bringing back Pankaj Tripathi as Kaleen Bhaiya, Ali Fazal as Guddu Pandit and Divyenndu as Munna Tripathi for a larger theatrical outing.
The big question now is whether the franchise's trademark violence, power struggles and dark humour have successfully made the jump from OTT to the big screen.
Early reviews suggest that the film delivers plenty of the "Mirzapur" flavour fans came for, although its lengthy runtime and occasionally stretched storytelling have divided critics.
Pankaj Tripathi Remains the Film's Biggest Strength
One of the strongest points across the reviews is Pankaj Tripathi's return as Kaleen Bhaiya.
The Indian Express awarded the film 3/5, describing it as an overlong but enjoyable ride and highlighting Tripathi's performance as an important reason the film works. The review also suggests that his presence restores some of the energy that the franchise appeared to lose in its third season.
The returning cast also appears to be a major attraction, with Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Ravi Kishan and the other familiar faces helping recreate the atmosphere that made the original series popular.
Ravi Kishan Steals the Show
The Times of India gave Mirzapur: The Movie 3/5, praising its familiar characters, gang rivalries and political intrigue while particularly highlighting Ravi Kishan's performance. The review calls the movie a fan-service-driven experience that takes viewers back into the lawless world of the series.
Ravi Kishan's Babbua Yadav has also emerged as one of the major talking points among early audience reactions.
Four Stars From Hindustan Times
Not every critic was cautious about the film.
Hindustan Times gave Mirzapur: The Movie 4/5, calling it a worthy big-screen companion to the series. The review praises the continuity of the original cast and argues that bringing the familiar actors back helps preserve the emotional connection audiences already have with these characters.
That makes the film's critical reception notably stronger among some reviewers who believe the theatrical scale adds something meaningful to the franchise.
The Biggest Problem: Its Length
If there is one criticism that repeatedly appears in the reviews, it is the runtime.
The movie runs for more than three hours, and several critics feel that the story could have benefited from tighter editing.
India Today gave the film 3/5, praising its action, music, dialogues and nostalgia but arguing that the storytelling sometimes feels closer to an extended OTT season than a tightly edited theatrical movie.
NDTV was more critical, giving the movie 2.5/5 and describing it as a sprawling crime drama. The review appreciates its twists and violent energy but suggests that the franchise needs enough narrative material to justify expanding into further films.
Action, Dialogues and Climax Get Attention
For longtime Mirzapur fans, the most important question may simply be whether the bhaukaal is still there.
Early reactions indicate that it is.
The familiar combination of action, dark humour, colourful characters and punchy dialogue remains central to the movie. India Today also highlighted the music, rap tracks and climax as elements that keep the theatrical experience entertaining despite the pacing issues.
The film's climax has received particularly positive attention, with early reactions describing the final stretch as one of its strongest sections.
What Are Audiences Saying?
Early audience reactions have largely focused on Ravi Kishan, the action sequences, background score, dialogues and the return of Munna.
India Today's release-day coverage reported viewers calling the film a strong theatrical experience, with some praising the second half and the way the franchise's familiar energy has been translated onto the big screen.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh also gave the movie an enthusiastic early response, calling it a mass entertainer and praising its larger cinematic presentation while acknowledging a dip around the beginning of the second half.
Final Verdict: Worth It for Mirzapur Fans?
Based on the early critical response, Mirzapur: The Movie is not a unanimous masterpiece, but it appears to be a solid theatrical treat for fans of the franchise.
The performances, especially Pankaj Tripathi and Ravi Kishan, are among its biggest strengths. The action, dialogues, nostalgia and climax provide the crowd-pleasing moments audiences expect.
The main drawback is its very long runtime and uneven pacing.
For casual viewers, the three-hour-plus running time may test patience. But for fans who have been waiting to see Kaleen Bhaiya, Guddu and Munna back together on the big screen, the movie appears to deliver enough guns, power games, betrayal and bhaukaal to make the trip to cinemas worthwhile.
