Raghavan's slow-burn thriller holds firm on Kaif and Sethupathi's chemistry.
Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
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Critic consensus
Critical reception for Merry Christmas is largely positive, with reviewers praising Sriram Raghavan's direction and screenplay as assured and distinctive. The lead performances of Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi drew consistent appreciation, with critics noting their effective on-screen chemistry and Kaif's layered portrayal in particular. The film's slow-burn pacing and climax were frequently highlighted as strengths. The most recurring reservation, voiced by a small number of critics, concerns the unhurried tempo and the film's comparisons to Raghavan's previous work Andhadhun, which some felt set expectations the film does not fully match.
7 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 14 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review
Merry Christmas bewitches even when it baffles. Katrina Kaif conveys confusion and vulnerability cloaked in occasional flashes of steely determination, and is helped a great deal by the contrast that Vijay Sethupathi represents.
Top critic
Film review
Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi make for an unlikely pair, but they make it work, and she again proves that she can be an actor underneath all that pancake and bump-and-grind.
Film review ·
It's a noir film but unlike noir films, besides the darkness of the soul, it also showcases the triumph of human spirit and compassion – something that's intrinsic to Christmas. It's a dark comedy that will make you smile and scratch your head at the same time.
Film review
Sriram Raghavan surprises once again & nothing less than this was anyway expected from him after Badlapur & Andhadhun. The way Raghavan has treated this as an 'entertaining film' rather than being all about thrills makes this stand out from the crowd. If you're able to keep Andhadhun aside for this one & watch this for the movie it is, you'll have more fun.
Film review ·
Merry Christmas has a breathtaking climax that will have you sighing like you've never sighed in a Sriram Raghavan movie before. With Merry Christmas, Raghavan may have made his most romantic movie yet, shimmering with spellbinding charisma and treacherous impulses.
Film review
MERRY CHRISTMAS is well made and laced with a fine performance.
Film review
Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif work well together in a film that plays out in a quieter, lighter fashion
Film review
'Merry Christmas' may not be as dark as 'Andhadhun', one of Raghavan's finest works. But then, the carols here are not about care and compassion alone. You see, sometimes violence is better than sacrifice.
Film review ·
Sriram Raghavan's film is exceptional, and remarkably moving.
Film review ·
The unhurried pace and the slow buildup of Sriram Raghavan’s Merry Christmas is what makes the movie gripping
Film review
Writer-director Sriram Raghavan, five years since his last directorial Andhadhun, once again displays a spectacular example of what brilliant writing looks like. The film goes far and beyond, entering unchartered territories and immerses you in a world of deception, death and darkness.
Film review
If you want to watch a thriller with a twist, go for it! Director Sriram Raghavan's mastery of several twists and turns comes to the fore as we see characters and a dead body making the happy ambience turn ominous.
Film review
Sriram Raghavan mounts yet another delectable tale of a charming woman accosted by a stranger. The slow-burn gradually combusts our attention leaving plenty of soot behind.
Film review
I was on the edge of my seat for all but the first minute of the film. Everything in the film comes together towards that end—keeping you on the edge. Will not ask for more from a thriller!
Credits
Katrina KaifMaria
Vijay SethupathiAlbert Arogyasami
Radhika ApteRosie
Sanjay KapoorRonnie Fernandes
Vinay PathakInsp. Paresh Kamdar
Tinnu AnandYadhoom Uncle
Pratima KazmiConstable Laxmi
Ashwini KalsekarScarlet Fernandes
Radikaa Sarathkumar
Shanmugarajan
Gayathrie ShankarSinger at the Bar
Rajesh
Kavin Jay Babu
Sahil VaidMaria's Date
Luke KennyJeromeHindi films like Merry Christmas
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