Border 2 movie review: Following the emphatic box office run of Dhurandhar, Sunny Deol is back to dial up the patriotic fervour with Border 2. Nearly three decades after JP Dutta’s 1997 blockbuster, which grossed an estimated Rs 55 crore worldwide, the sequel is all set to reclaim its spot in the current patriotic narrative.
Directed by Anurag Singh, the highly anticipated war drama chronicles the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Capitalising on the strategic Republic Day long weekend, the film has opened to strong numbers.
Border 2 box office collection
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film’s pre-release momentum has been massive. Border 2 reportedly minted Rs 10 crore in advance sales alone by selling over 4 lakh tickets across 15,000 shows for Day 1. With spot bookings firing on all cylinders this Friday, trade analysts predict a historic opening.
Despite initial mixed reactions to the trailer, the Sunny Deol starrer seems to have won over the audience, riding on immense star power and the heavy sentiment of nationalism.
Border 2 X reviews: ‘Solid War Spectacle’
After early shows on day 1, fans on X (formerly Twitter) are lauding the scale of the film. Netizens have termed it a “solid war spectacle,” with many claiming the narrative induces “goosebumps,” particularly in the high-octane second half post-interval.
A cinema enthusiast posted, “Patriotism on full volume.” Another user wrote, “Border 2 brings back the soul of patriotic mass cinema with a bigger scale and deeper emotions. This is not just a film; it’s an emotion-packed battlefield experience made for theatres.”
Another fan shared film’s soon-to-be-famous dialogue – “Himmat hai toh aa, yeh khada hai Hindustan.” Every word, every roar theatre erupts. Varun Dhawan brings unexpected gravitas, Diljit’s restrained intensity adds warmth, and Ahan Shetty impresses in raw, sincere moments. True cinema, pure emotion,”
Performance Check: Sunny Deol in ‘Lion Mode’
A user specifically highlighted the cast’s performance. Sunny Deol is reportedly in “Lion Mode” with his signature explosive dialogue delivery. Interestingly, the new additions are receiving equal praise, Varun Dhawan is being described as “surprisingly powerful and sincere,” while Diljit Dosanjh is being called the “heart of the film.”
Film experts and trade analysts have already declared the film a potential blockbuster, anticipating it will dominate the box office throughout the holiday weekend.
How did netizens respond to Sunny Deol’s performance?
“Sunny Deol stands tall as the soul of the film. His screen presence is commanding, blending old-school intensity with emotional gravitas,” many described him as the ‘anchor’ of the film.
“His fearless daahaad, hard-hitting dialogues, and intense emotions shake the theatre,” felt another user on X. They also praised Border 2 maker Anurag Singh for his “vision, scale, and the way the climax is executed.” The subject of many trolls, Varun Dhawan, also gathered some positive reviews.
However, for many it was Diljit who stole the show – “Diljit Dosanjh is the X-factor of this movie. He has completely immersed himself in the character and brings a typical fauji humour,” a user stated.
Border 2 : Angry and Dissatisfied reviews
However, not all guns were blazing in favour of the film. A significant section of the audience felt the movie fell short of the legacy set by the 1997 original. Critical reviews on social media have pointed out a lack of depth and coherent storytelling.
“Terrible across the board. Characters are empty at the core. The conflict isn’t defined. Actors feel like they don’t know what film they are in. The editing is sloppy. The direction lacks inspiration. Nothing is working so far,”
Giving it only 2 out of 5 stars, a user called it mediocre: ” Decent action and patriotic highs, but weak script and outdated treatment make it AVG. Unwanted Pak scenes added only for collections, like Gadar 2 content. Sunny Deol feels like forced nostalgia, with many scenes turning funny.”