For context, Alpha is being positioned as the first female-led film in the YRF Spy Universe, a franchise that has already delivered six spy films and over ₹3,000 crore at the box office. That means expectations weren’t just high; they were practically sitting on the Burj Khalifa.  

And if Reddit reactions are anything to go by, people aren’t mad because it’s female-led. They’re mad because they think it isn’t fresh enough, believable enough, or original enough.

Here’s a breakdown of every major criticism that keeps popping up.

“Why Does This Feel Like I’ve Seen It Before?”

The biggest conversation wasn’t even about Alia Bhatt. It was about déjà vu.

Within hours of the teaser dropping, users started comparing scenes to Luc Besson’s La Femme Nikita, Black Widow, Ballerina, American Sniper, Lara Croft, and basically every “trained female assassin” movie that has existed in the last three decades.  

One particular sequence featuring Alia receiving instructions at a restaurant became the centre of the plagiarism debate, with users claiming it looked WAY TOO HELLA similar to a scene from La Femme Nikita. The discussion got so loud that mainstream entertainment publications started covering the comparisons.  

The issue, according to Reddit, isn’t inspiration but the execution.

Audiences today are extremely online. They consume Korean thrillers, French action films, Hollywood spy franchises and anime in the same week. It is the worst possible khichdi of content consumption you can imagine! 

The second a scene feels familiar, people notice. And unfortunately for Alpha, a lot of people noticed.

The YRF Spy Universe Is Starting To Feel Like A Group Project That Keeps Reusing The Same PPT

Another recurring complaint is franchise fatigue! 

The YRF Spy Universe has gone from being an exciting crossover event to a cinematic formula that some viewers believe has become predictable. Several reactions joked that after watching six YRF spy films, audiences can practically write the seventh one themselves.  

There’s a secret agency, trauma, a rogue villain, a mission that could destroy the nation, a surprise cameo anddddd Repeat! 

Reddit users argued that the teaser doesn’t seem interested in reinventing the spy genre. Instead, it appears to be remixing familiar franchise ingredients.

For a universe that’s supposed to be expanding, many felt the teaser looked way too ummm..safe? 

The “Secret Agency Tattoo” Makes Absolutely No Sense

One of the funniest criticisms wasn’t about acting or action. It was about operational security.

In the teaser, Alpha appears to be marked with a visible tattoo representing the secret programme she belongs to.

Reddit immediately asked a very reasonable question:

Why would a covert organisation give its agents matching identifiable tattoos?

A spy’s entire job is blending in. Users compared it to other espionage franchises where identifying marks remain hidden or only become visible under specific conditions. The consensus was simple: nothing says “secret organisation” less than permanent branding.  

It’s the kind of logic hole that wouldn’t matter if the teaser had fully sold the fantasy. But because viewers were already scrutinising everything else, it became another thing to laugh about.

The Alia Bhatt Action Debate Refuses To End

This is where things got well…messy and unguarded! 

A large section of Reddit isn’t convinced by Alia as an action superstar. Because they don’t think the physicality is there.

Several commenters compared her to actors like Rani Mukerji in Mardaani and Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom, arguing that both performers looked physically convincing within their respective worlds. Others pointed out that action credibility isn’t about height but screen presence, body language, and strength.  

Many users specifically referenced the amount of physical transformation international action stars undergo before entering franchises. They argued that audiences have become accustomed to highly trained, visibly athletic protagonists and therefore judge action performances differently today.  

“She’s Taking Down Men Twice Her Size”

The teaser’s combat scenes sparked another conversation about believability.

Some Redditors argued that the action choreography doesn’t appear grounded enough. A frequently repeated criticism was that watching a much smaller protagonist effortlessly overpower multiple larger opponents without explanation feels disconnected from reality.  

Interestingly, many users weren’t demanding realism. They were just demanding internal logic. Is that really wrong?

People pointed out that franchises like John Wick and Atomic Blonde work because they establish clear fighting styles, limitations, and consequences.

Reddit’s issue wasn’t that Alia wins. It was that the teaser allegedly doesn’t show enough of how she wins.

The Sharvari Problem

Another surprisingly common complaint? Where is Sharvari?

The film was marketed as a major female-led spy project starring both actors, yet several users felt the teaser overwhelmingly centred Alia while barely giving Sharvari to show. 

For a movie being celebrated as a landmark female-led franchise entry, some fans expected a stronger showcase of the partnership dynamic.

Instead, many walked away wondering whether one of the leads had accidentally wandered into nothingness. 

The Dhurandhar Effect

Poor timing is a riyal thing! 

And according to Reddit, Alpha may have become its latest victim.

A surprising number of reactions compared the teaser to Dhurandhar, with users joking that Dhurandhar looked like the “real spy movie” while Alpha felt comparatively generic. Some even called Dhurandhar the “OG spy.”  

Whether fair or not, comparison culture is undefeated. People rarely judge trailers in isolation anymore.

They judge them against everything else currently dominating timelines.

So yeah, Hamza’s gifs saying “Are mere ghante ki first kill…” were bound to come! 

If you take away all the jokes, memes, wolf references, “Wolf ki beti Wolfie” comments, KRK discourse, plagiarism allegations, and action debates, Reddit’s core complaint is WAY TOO simple.

People wanted something they hadn’t seen before. The irony is that Alpha is already making history as the first female-led film in the YRF Spy Universe.  

But Reddit doesn’t care about milestones if the storytelling feels bleh.

That’s why the conversation around Alpha isn’t really about whether Alia Bhatt can lead an action film. It’s about whether Bollywood’s biggest spy franchise can still surprise people.

And judging by Reddit’s current mood, that’s the mission everyone is watching.

Toodlesss….