Toxic Movie Review: Critic Slams Toxic As “Dull And Cheap Copy Of Animal,” Awards Yash-Starrer Just 2 Stars

Toxic Movie Review: Film critic Umair Sandhu, known for posting his reviews ahead of a movie‘s theatrical release, has called Toxic a “dull and cheap copy of Animal.” The verdict comes as a genuine surprise, especially since Sandhu had earlier described the film’s trailer as a “blockbuster” after watching it at the Censor Board screening, going as far as predicting it would cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark at the box office and give Dhurandhar 2 tough competition.

Just 2 Stars for a Pan-India Spectacle

Despite the massive scale, star power, and months of pre-release buzz surrounding Toxic, Sandhu awarded the film only 2 stars, signaling a major gap between expectation and execution. For a project positioned as Yash’s big follow-up after the success of the KGF franchise, the rating marks a significant setback in the conversation around the film heading into release day.

Yash’s Overloaded Responsibilities Under Scrutiny

Sandhu suggested that Yash taking on multiple responsibilities on the project, including story, direction, and production duties, may be behind the film‘s shortcomings. The critic’s implication is that spreading creative control this thin across departments may have come at the cost of a tighter, more focused final product.

Echoes of the Animal Comparisons

The “cheap copy” label isn’t new to Toxic. Even before release, the film’s trailer had drawn comparisons to Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal over its dark tone, raw violence, and larger-than-life male lead. Social media reactions at the time ranged from calling the trailer derivative to arguing that Toxic was pushing the same gritty template even further. Other early reviewers have echoed similar concerns, with some pointing to an overlong runtime, a script that doesn’t match the film’s visual ambition, and supporting performances that fail to leave an impact despite a stacked cast.