The reviews are evenly divided between positive, mixed and negative, but praise clusters around the stunt work, Manhattan set pieces and the testy pairing of Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson. Even some detractors acknowledge the action’s physical impact, while warmer assessments find enough energy and humour to make the spectacle satisfying. Jackson is a particular asset, earning approval even from critics who find the surrounding formula tired.
The main divide is over whether the larger, city-wide adventure refreshes the series or sacrifices its tension and coherence. Collider sees a revitalised sequel that preserves the original’s desperation and humour; Time Out finds familiar chases and explosions with little originality. Reservations recur around the scattered plotting and loss of momentum towards the finish, with even Collider calling the ending rushed and anticlimactic. Jeremy Irons’s villain also divides opinion: some enjoy his presence, while others find him wanting beside the original’s antagonist.