Pathaan (2023)

Pathaan is the kind of big, brash Bollywood spectacle that reminds you why movie stars become movie stars—Shah Rukh Khan returns with the swagger, charm, and sheer screen magnetism to carry a blockbuster on his shoulders and make it look effortless. The film moves like a rocket, stacking high-octane set pieces, glossy visuals, and crowd-pleasing twists into an adventure that’s less about realism than about the pure joy of momentum. It’s a full-throttle masala entertainer: loud, confident, and designed to be watched with your guard down and your appetite for spectacle turned up. If you’re looking for subtle drama, this may not be your ride—but if you want a charismatic, globe-trotting action thriller that knows exactly how to have fun, Pathaan delivers.

Pathaan is aiming for loud, crowd-pleasing Bollywood spy spectacle: big stars, bigger stunts, and a steady stream of “hero returns” adrenaline. The catch is that the plot is pretty predictable and often feels stitched together from familiar action-thriller beats, so if you need a tight script and smart twists, you’ll likely get bored. The action leans hard into logic-defying set pieces and occasionally shaky VFX, which can pull you out of the moment if you care about realism or polish. If you’re happy to treat it as glossy, pulpy fun powered by charisma and momentum, it can deliver; if you want grounded thrills, it’s probably not your film.