Alpha (2026) Review: A Super-Soldier Spy Story Stuck Between Hits

This Alpha review covers the seventh film in the YRF Spy Universe and the first to put a woman at its centre. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the Hindi-language action adventure has a starry cast and big set pieces. Its script, however, struggles to keep up.

Alpha Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Alpha plot begins in the aftermath of the 1999 Kargil War. An Indian Army officer launches a covert super-soldier project called Alpha, and its most dangerous product is an assassin raised in isolation by a rogue commander. Alia Bhatt plays Sita, the trained killer at the heart of it all.

The film is built on a story by Uday Chopra, with a screenplay by Soumil Shukla, Shridhar Raghavan and Ishita Moitra. It is a spy story first, with a hunt, a secret programme and a past that refuses to stay buried. I will stop there, because the fun of the first act is watching the pieces get placed.

If you follow the YRF franchise, expect the familiar mix of globe-trotting spycraft and heavy stunt work. Newcomers can follow the setup without much homework.

What Works in Alpha

The action is the main draw. Critics singled out the fight and chase sequences, and the film clearly puts its money on screen. For fans of action movie reviews, this is the part that delivers.

The music also earned praise, giving the film energy between the set pieces. Hrithik Roshan's extended cameo as Kabir Dhaliwal is another highlight, and it rewards viewers who know the wider spy universe.

Making a female-led entry is a welcome step for the franchise. Putting Sita and Durga at the centre gives the series a different emotional angle from its earlier male-driven films.

Alpha Cast and Performances

The Alpha cast is the film's strongest asset. Reviewers praised Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol in particular.

• Alia Bhatt plays Sita, the assassin at the story's core.

• Sharvari plays Durga.

• Bobby Deol plays Fateh Singh Lakhawat / Major Zarrar Khan.

• Anil Kapoor plays Vikrant Kaul.

• Dia Mirza plays Janaki Kaul, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya plays Dr. John Verghese.

Bhatt brings intensity and physical commitment to an action role that asks for a lot. Deol and Kapoor add weight to the supporting parts, which helps when the dialogue gets thin.

Where Alpha Stumbles

The screenplay is the problem. Critics were openly negative about the story and writing, and the response to Rawail's direction was mixed. A premise about genetic modification and secret programmes should feel tense, but the script often leans on familiar spy-thriller turns.

Pacing and Tone

At around 140 minutes, the film can feel stretched when the action pauses. Emotional beats do not always land because the characters are written more as archetypes than as people. The performances rescue some scenes, but not all of them.

The film also struggled commercially, with reports describing it as a box office bomb. That does not decide its quality, but it suggests the wider audience was not won over.

Is Alpha Worth Watching?

Alpha is worth watching if you come for the cast and the action, and less so if you want a sharp, surprising story. Reception was mixed to negative overall, and the praise went mostly to the performances, stunts and music.

If you enjoy adventure movie reviews with big physical spectacle, you will find enough here to stay engaged. If you want something with more narrative bite, our review of Maa Inti Bangaram looks at a very different story about a hidden past. For cast and crew details, see the Alpha page on Wikipedia).

Who Will Enjoy Alpha

• Fans of the YRF Spy Universe who want the next chapter, plus a Hrithik Roshan cameo.

• Viewers who love Alia Bhatt, Bobby Deol or Anil Kapoor and want to see them in action mode.

• Action fans who value stunts and music over a tightly plotted screenplay.