Why Alpha Flopped: 5 Mistakes That Broke the YRF Spy Universe

Alpha is an unmitigated disaster for the YRF Spy Universe. The film abandons the grounded espionage of earlier entries for poorly executed sci-fi gimmicks and stolen set pieces that insult the viewer's intelligence. The box office numbers reflect a complete rejection by an audience exhausted by franchise fatigue and lazy writing. The primary reasons Alpha fails include blatant plagiarism of Marvel's Black Widow, an absurd script that treats the Indian Armed Forces as entirely incompetent, and a tone-deaf cameo that ruins an established character. Alia Bhatt and Sharvari are given a disjointed narrative where their super-soldier abilities are forgotten whenever convenient. The film prioritizes international product placements and derivative money shots over basic narrative logic.

The 5 Fatal Flaws of Alpha

The writing in this installment operates on a surface level. The creators assumed the audience would accept a string of chaotic action sequences without questioning the connective tissue.

1. The Blatant Marvel Plagiarism

The dynamic between Sitha (Alia Bhatt) and her sister (Sharvari) is lifted entirely from Natasha and Yelena in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The theft goes beyond character tropes. The opening montage of Sitha's psychological subjugation mimics the Red Room. The shot of Sitha walking away from an exploding Alpha facility with a guinea pig is a direct, undeniable copy of a frame from Thunderbolts. The writers did not bother to hide their source material.

2. The Comical Infiltration Plot

Fati (Bobby Deol) is revealed to be a Pakistani spy. His master plan involves crossing the border, stealing the identity of a boy in Haryana, and rising to the rank of Colonel in the Indian Army. The script implies he bypassed all military intelligence checks simply by reading the Ramayana and behaving well. This is a severe misstep. The infiltration plot treats the Indian defense establishment as utterly clueless.

3. The Assassination of Kabir

The mandatory Hrithik Roshan cameo was supposed to elevate the film. Instead, it places Kabir in a Ladakh monastery performing B-grade wire-fu. Kabir is established as a slick, tactical operative. Alpha has him catching bullets in mid-air and tossing them back at enemies while executing cartoonish twirls. The scene strips away his aura and turns a beloved character into a caricature.

4. Incompetent Intelligence Operations

Anil Kapoor plays the RAW chief, yet his character makes every wrong decision possible. Every safehouse he provides is compromised within minutes. He sends his highly capable super-soldier daughters on motorcycles, only for them to inexplicably switch to a Jeep Wrangler for a highway product placement. The supposed mastermind of Indian intelligence functions solely as a helpless plot device who requires constant rescuing.

5. Unearned and Hollow Patriotism

The film attempts to stick the landing with a classic franchise moment. Sitha executes Fati and declares herself "India ki Alpha." The line makes zero narrative sense. Sitha was raised in isolation, treated like a lab rat, and driven entirely by a personal vendetta against her captor. Slapping a patriotic label on her in the final moments is a forced studio mandate that ignores two hours of character development.

The Box Office Verdict

Alpha proves that the Spy Universe formula is breaking down. Audiences will no longer tolerate poorly written scripts propped up by high-budget action and forced crossovers. The lack of a post-credits scene suggests even the studio recognizes they need to pause and re-evaluate their pipeline.

Quick Facts

• Release Date: July 2026

• Platform: Theatrical Release (Streaming platform unannounced)

• Director: Shiv Rawail

• Top Cast: Alia Bhatt (Sitha), Sharvari Wagh, Bobby Deol (Fati), Anil Kapoor

• Status: In Theaters
  

Currently playing in theaters across India and international markets.

FAQ

Why is Alpha getting negative reviews? Alpha is receiving negative reviews due to a weak script, highly derivative action sequences, and plot holes. Critics have pointed out that the super-soldier concept is poorly integrated into the grounded Spy Universe.

Did Alpha copy Black Widow? Yes. Several scenes in Alpha directly mirror Black Widow, including the psychological conditioning montage and the specific dynamic between the two lead sisters.

What happens in the Hrithik Roshan cameo in Alpha? Hrithik Roshan makes an appearance as Kabir in a Ladakh monastery. He helps Sitha and her sister fight a group of goons using exaggerated, physics-defying action moves that contradict his usual combat style.

Is Bobby Deol the main villain in Alpha? Bobby Deol plays Fati, the primary antagonist. He is a Pakistani spy who hijacked the Alpha program from within the Indian Army to create super-soldiers for his own agenda.