Weekend Pick or Pass: DC (2026) on Moviebox

There are two ways you could spend your Friday night. One is reading a book. The other is watching a movie that has action scenes so good that you do not even need storyline to enjoy the movie. That is ‘DC’ (2026). Directed by Arun Matheswaran, you will appreciate the gritty realism and loyalty twists, and you will notice that a brutal Struggle for survival permeates each frame. This movie will not bore you and will keep your interest. With ‘DC’ (2026), you get a reward for paying attention, and that reward is a feast for your senses.

The Gritty Charm of the Canvas

From the opening title card, ‘DC’ tells you that you’re not in for your typical Sundance-sanctioned feel-good weekend film. The world that Devadas and Chandra live and work in is awash with danger and turbulence; with the violence and passion that they experiencemeshing as one. The film’s trick is to create a world and an atmosphere that is relentlessly intense and compelling. On a visual level, the film’s cinematography has earned critical praise for its ‘striking’ images throughout. The cinematography is a character in and of itself, working to create a brutal beautiful and violent world that is beyond the realm of action. The production design complements the cinematography by providing you with a richly detailed (and dangerous) world, never feeling contrived or fake. It’s the kind of film that makes you respect the artistry behind the lens that focuses on naked stark reality. Most encouraging is the film’s high energy and fast choreography that avoids the predictable doldrums of tedious fight films, incorporating instead meaningful and emotionally charged scenes. Audience scores hover around 7.8, with many viewers appreciating the intensely focused action of the film.

Performances keep the world grounded. Chandi Veeran’s Lokesh Kanagaraj and Wamiqa Gabbi as Chandra make a great duo. One audience member described their chemistry as “natural and organic” which not only adds turbulence to their alliance, but also emotional depth to their connection, thus putting the audience in their emotional state, even when the plotline starts to feel too familiar. Director Arun Matheswaran receives praise for his albeit, similar, but distinctive vision, which one critic praised for his ability to “incorporate many fitting influences from world and international cinema in a way that doesn't look awkward, in a way that feels Indian." This approach to DC not only gives it a unique identity but also the story beats to which it relates. Then there is the music. Anirudh’s score is not background music like some of his other songs. Audience commentary described his work as a “career-best”, stating that this work was “the main driving force of the movie.” This score not only enhances the caliber of the movie, but is so catchy you can’t help but be humming the tunes well after the movie ends. It has such command over your emotion that it is able to dictate the tone of the movie itself to the extent that audiences described as “amazing”; proving that some scores are more than just the same songs played over and over again.

Slightly Dull Edges

There are a few things that DC doesn’t quite pull off, but they try. The ‘justice fighter set in a violent world’ premise is a little unoriginal. One person said ‘the story premises is not an original one,’ but they still thought ‘the repackaging is done well.’ The core of the story with this movie’s premise is kinda lacking originality, and at almost 2 hours and 22 minutes long, some people think parts of it are a little long. One person thought that DC thinks longer and more expansive and ambitious sequences balance everything out well. One of the things people will find with Matheswaran’s work is that the visuals look cool, but some people think he is starting to lean too far into visual style, and not putting enough screenplay substance. One of Matheswaran’s films had ‘style over substance.’ Some people said it ‘does not have a screenplay that knows how to answer them.’ The emotional and audio-visual side of the film is really well done. The emotional side is not the best, but it is so good that it is really satisfying to watch and engage with.

The violence is abundant and well executed by the choreographers, but some may find it excessive. It’s not excessive for the sake of it, but it’s still more extreme. If you need a comfort film, this is not it. It does need a certain degree of comfortability with extreme violence and gore.

‘DC’ is definitely not your typical Sunday film and needs to be appreciated on a Saturday night. It’s something you’re more likely to save for a Saturday night, once you’ve planned for an immersive experience in which ‘DC’ will assault your senses in a positive way. It will definitely put you in a much more violent world than you’re probably used to, but it’s still such a visually stimulating film that it’s worth the experience, all on its own. It’s a brutal yet beautiful story that one critic called ‘undeniably devastating.’ Of course, there are things that could be filled in a little more, but the amazing plot is supported by perfect performances, and of course, the amazing score is nothing else but stellar. ‘DC’ will be a memorable movie that you’ll want to watch again.