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Newton's 3rd Law (2026) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo

Last updated: 21 Aug 2026

Newton's 3rd Law (2026) Review

Newton's 3rd Law (2026) — a Telugu thriller movie directed by RAJESH KARNA. The cast includes Sumanth, Jagapati Babu, Srinivas Avasarala. Follows an investigation into a double murder in 1999, with unexpected characters roped into the case as they search for justice amid intrigue and secrets. Our Rating: 2.25/5. Verdict: FLOP. Released: 15 May 2026. Runtime: 2h 18m.

Newton's 3rd Law
FLOP

Newton's 3rd Law(2026)

Telugu · Thriller

2h 18m · 15 May 2026

Writer: RAJESH KARNA

MysteryThriller

Ratings

The HinduThe HinduAI3
M9 NewsM9 NewsAI2.25
IMDbIMDb0
LetterboxdLetterboxd0
Metacritic UserMetacritic User0

Our Rating

2.25

📖 Story

Set primarily against a 1999 backdrop, the story revolves around Vasudev, a calm and smart cop who investigates the suspicious death of a young college student named Vinay and a hit-and-run incident involving a single mother. As an elderly man named David receives a mysterious novel detailing these past events, Vasudev uncovers a complex web of family struggles, debts, and interpersonal drama, where every action leads to a consequence following the karma theory.

🔍 Analysis

Newton's 3rd Law tries to be a smart scientific thriller, but mostly operates like a routine investigative drama with a decent concept. The movie opens on an intriguing note that hooks you in, showing promise of a minimalistic noir mystery. However, as the initial setup finishes, the execution gets quite flat. The investigation scenes proceed without any high moments or real tension, making even the interval stretch feel somewhat ordinary despite the underlying potential.

The second half brings more plot threads and twist attempts that look very impressive on paper. The narrative tries to tie character choices to a deeper karma philosophy, which keeps you curious to see how things connect. Unfortunately, the execution remains lukewarm throughout. The story moves from one scene to another without generating a strong high or 'wow factor', and the climax twists are rushed through so quickly that they lose their emotional punch.

Sumanth gives a very cool, composed, and neat performance as officer Vasudev, holding the film together without any unnecessary heroism. Shelly N Kumar and Trinadh Varma offer genuine emotional support to the drama, making their family tracks believable. On the flip side, senior actors like Jagapathi Babu and Srinivas Avasarala are thoroughly underutilized in stereotypical, flatly written roles that fail to add any serious weight to the proceedings.

On the technical front, Veda Vyas Gottipati's cinematography creates a decent atmospheric look, but the overall presentation feels simple and low-budget. Sinjith Yerramilli's songs are strictly forgettable, and the background score is a major disappointment as it fails to elevate the crucial thriller moments. The editing and dialogue work are strictly average, leaving the technical output in a passable space.

Overall, Newton's 3rd Law is an average, passable thriller that works better as an easy OTT watch rather than a big-screen experience. The core story idea and Sumanth's balanced act work well, but flat direction and a dull background score pull it down. If you lower your expectations, you can watch it once for its basic plot twists—just don't expect Newton-level heavy forces at play here!

🎭 Performances

Sumanth: Delivers a cool, suave, and unhurried performance as a sincere cop, carrying the film gracefully without overacting.

Trinadh Varma: Impresses as a vulnerable youngster in a dysfunctional family, showing good promise and emotional depth.

Shelley N Kumar: Provides a compelling, grounded act that brings an emotional edge to the family drama.

Ravi Varma: Supports the narrative effectively with a neat and believable performance.

Neha Pathan: Maintains poise and delivers a stable performance in a crucial narrative role.

Jagapati Babu: Underutilized in a routine, stereotypical villain role that lacks unique impact or freshness.

Srinivas Avasarala: Gives an underwhelming performance in a flatly written character that goes over the top towards the end.

💪 Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • Intriguing core concept tied to Karma Theory
  • Sumanth's calm and subtle performance
  • Good emotional drama from supporting cast members
  • Decent twists and turns on paper

Weaknesses

  • Flat execution lacking high-voltage thriller moments
  • Weak and unimpactful background score
  • Stereotypical characters for senior actors like Jagapathi Babu
  • Rushed climax portion

🎬 Direction & Writing

Rajesh Karna chooses an academic and minimalistic approach to the thriller genre. While his writing has interesting multi-layered ideas on paper, his direction on screen suffers from a flat execution that fails to deliver suspenseful highs.

🛠️ Technical Aspects
  • - Atmospheric lighting and rainy seasonal backdrop in cinematography
  • - Songs used mostly in the background to drive narrative
  • - Simple editing with occasional pacing issues in the second half

📰 Ratings Sources

SourceRating
The HinduThe Hindu
3.00 / 5
M9 NewsM9 News
2.25 / 5

Our Rating

2.25/5

💰 Box Office Collection

No collection data available yet.

🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards

No centers data available.

No awards data available.

🏆 Records & Box Office

  • - Passable performance in targeted single screens, better reception expected on OTT.

😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics

TypeValue
Positive40%
Neutral40%
Negative20%

Critics

Critics found the film to be a passable investigative drama with an interesting premise, praising Sumanth's performance and the core storyline while criticizing the flat execution, weak BGM, and rushed climax.

Final Box-Office Result

FLOP

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When did Newton's 3rd Law release in theatres?

Newton's 3rd Law released on 15 May 2026 (2026).

Is Newton's 3rd Law a hit or flop?

Newton's 3rd Law is declared a FLOP at the box office.

Where to watch Newton's 3rd Law online? OTT release date?

Newton's 3rd Law OTT release date not announced yet.

Who directed Newton's 3rd Law?

Newton's 3rd Law directed by RAJESH KARNA. Produced by KOHIRKAR HARISH.

Who are the main cast members of Newton's 3rd Law?

Newton's 3rd Law stars Sumanth, Jagapati Babu, Srinivas Avasarala, Ravi Varma, Trinadh Varma.

What is the Tollybo rating for Newton's 3rd Law?

Tollybo rates Newton's 3rd Law 2.25/5. Verdict: FLOP.

What is the genre and runtime of Newton's 3rd Law?

Newton's 3rd Law — Genre: Thriller, Runtime: 138 minutes, Language: Telugu.

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