Leo review, release highlights: Vijay film poised to set new box office records despite middling reviews

Headlined by Thalapathy Vijay and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Leo has finally released in theaters on Thursday, October 19. The film has been highly awaited since its announcement as it marks the second collaboration between the actor and the filmmaker since their blockbuster Master in 2021.

Thalapathy Vijay fans celebrate Leo in Odisha

Thalapthy Vijay fans in Odisha were seen pouring milk on actor’s poster, dancing to celebrate the release of his latest film Leo.

LEO celebration in North India by Thalapathy Fans 
#Leo #LeoReview #LeoMovie #LeoDay #ThalapathiVijay #Rolex #LeoHindi #LeoBlockbuster #LokeshKanagaraj pic.twitter.com/Snwmti5Lvt

— KanthaleMohit) October 19, 2023

Trisha watches Leo in Chennai with friends and family

Trisha visited a Chennai theatre with her mother, Aditi Ravindranath, friends and family members to watch Leo. The actress was also seen waving hands to her fans and greeting them in the theatre​.

Pictures of @trishtrashers who is at @RohiniSilverScr for #LeoFDFS with her mom, family, friends and @aditi1231 #Trisha #SouthQueenTrisha #LeoFromToday pic.twitter.com/qtwMF2OTJV

— Trisha Krishnan FC (@ActressTrisha) October 19, 2023

Fans call Sanjay Dutt ‘weak villain’ in Leo 

While netizens can’t stop praising Thalapathy Vijay’s performance in his latest release Leo, a section of society found Sanjay Dutt to be a ‘weak villain’ in the movie and believe that he could have been used better.

Weak VILLIAN character!! #SanjayDutt as #AntonyDass in #LeoMovie!! pic.twitter.com/6np9iQIq0b

— Kerala Box Office (@KeralaBxOffce) October 19, 2023

Leo is Vijay's brave effort to break type but also Lokesh Kanagaraj's weakest film

The DNA review for Leo states, "As a standalone film, for people who have seen the director's previous work, Leo remains underwhelming. The saving grace is a superstar trying something brave and pulling it off. So extra points to both Vijay and Lokesh for that." Read the full review here.

Leo expected to earn Rs 145 crore on first day

As per the industry tracker Sacnilk.com, Thalapathy Vijay-starrer is set for the biggest opening in the history of Tamil cinema. The film is predicted to earn Rs 80 crore gross in India and Rs 65 crore gross in overseas, totalling to Rs 145 crore gross worldwide.

Vijay fans exchange rings and get engaged in Tamil Nadu theatre screening Leo

In one of the viral videos from Leo screenings, Vijay fans are seen exchanging rings and garlands during the first day first show of the film inside a theatre in Pudukkotai, Tamil Nadu, amid cheers from the audience.

In #Pudukkottai a couple exchanged their engagement ring and put Maalai on each other in front of #Leo in the morning show. @xpresstn #VijayThalapathy #VijayFans #LeoMovie #wedding pic.twitter.com/OsZMrh7iYm

— Iniya Nandan (@Iniyanandan25) October 19, 2023

Mahesh Babu's cameo in Leo? 

A netizen shared a clip of a commercial of Mahesh Babu appearing before Leo's beginning in their theatres and wrote, "Unexpected #MaheshBabu's cameo in #Leo first 20 sec mass". His post went viral and received hilarious reactions. 

Unexpected  #MaheshBabu's cameo in #Leo first 20 sec mass #LeoFilm #LeoFDFS #LeoTelugu #LokeshKanakaraj #LokeshCinematicUniverse #AnirudhRavichander @urstrulyMahesh @Dir_Lokes1h pic.twitter.com/KToDfQ6xAH

— Dr.dasavatharam (@rooshithkumar) October 18, 2023

Lokesh Kanagaraj visits theatre to watch Leo with audiences

The film's director Lokesh Kanagaraj visited theatre to watch the first day first show of Leo with the audiences. Thalapathy Vijay fans welcome him with cheers as he is seen arriving in his black luxury car and heading to the cinema hall to watch the film.

Lokesh Kanagaraj Arrived To Watch #LeoFDFS #Leo @actorvijay pic.twitter.com/wCYf8SptW6

—  (@MuhilThalaiva) October 19, 2023

Thalapathy Vijay fans celebrate Leo release in Tamil Nadu

Viral videos from Madurai, Tamil Nadu show Thalapathy Vijay fans celebrating and dancing outside theatres screening Leo. The film's shows started in the actor's home state at 9 am and the late night shows can go on till 1:30 am.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Excited fans in Madurai celebrate the release of Tamil actor Vijay's film 'Leo' pic.twitter.com/toTbQ776Tt

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2023

Leo opens to packed theatres and positive reviews

The Thalapathy Vijay-starrer has opened to housefull shows in South India. When Tamil Nadu government didn't allow its early morning shows at 4 am and 7 am, the actor's fans have rushed to neighbouring cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kochi on Wednesday itself to watch Leo as soon as possible to avoid any spoilers.

The reviews also have been encouraging, with moviegoers calling it Vijay's 'best career performance ever' and the overall movie 'a sureshot blockbuster'. Some of the reviews have also stated that Leo has an excellent first half, but the second half isn't good enough and hence, the movie ends up being an average fare. 

#Leo - No Spoiler Review :
First half paced with Realistic Story Telling and Brutal Violence is an absolute banger
Second half stuffed with Blasting commercial moments and Suprises

Industry Hit Loading...

— Maddy Madhav (@MaddyMadhav_) October 19, 2023

#Leo #LeoFDFS #LeoReview has super fun first half but an utterly generic second half. Post the intermission, mostly nothing works, and Lokesh, who superbly conceives the action set pieces,is let down by mediocre VFX.Should have been a memorable film. It ends up as average.

— No Name (@bldgcontractor) October 19, 2023

An Anirudh Ravichander musical, Leo also stars Sanjay Dutt, Trisha, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Mysskin, Arjun, Mansoor Ali Khan, and Priya Anand in key roles. The action-packed entertainer is the fifth film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj after Maanagaram, Kaithi, Master, and Vikram.

READ | Leo Twitter review: Lokesh Kanagaraj film is 'blockbuster' with Thalapathy Vijay's 'best performance ever', say viewers