7 Dogs Review: Salman Khan’s Cameo Gets The Biggest Cheer, But This Explosive Action Film Is Let Down By Its Thin Story
Director: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Cast: Ahmed Ezz, Karim Abdel Aziz, Monica Bellucci, Giancarlo Esposito, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt
Release Date: August 21, 2026
Genre: Action/Crime Thriller
Verdict: A visually grand action entertainer that delivers on scale and star power but struggles to match its spectacle with a compelling story.
7 Dogs arrives with all the ingredients of a big-screen action extravaganza. There are massive explosions, high-speed car chases, elaborate stunts, international locations and a cast packed with familiar faces. Add brief but attention-grabbing appearances by Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, and the film has plenty designed to make audiences sit up and take notice.
But there is a problem: the bigger the action gets, the thinner the story begins to feel.
Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, 7 Dogs clearly wants to establish itself as an ambitious Arabic action film capable of competing with the scale of mainstream Hollywood spectacles. In terms of production design and sheer physicality, it often succeeds.
The screenplay, however, does not always keep pace with the visuals.
7 Dogs Review: A Film That Wants To Be Bigger And Louder
The amount of money spent on 7 Dogs is evident from the opening portions itself.
The film moves through deserts, crowded urban locations and elaborate action set pieces, with vehicles crashing, buildings shaking and explosions arriving at regular intervals. The directors have clearly invested heavily in creating a sense of scale.
The action is not treated as an afterthought. It is the central attraction.
There is weight to the stunts, the explosions have impact, and several sequences are staged with enough energy to keep the audience engaged. The camera frequently moves with the characters, while long takes give some of the action scenes a more immersive quality.
Visually, 7 Dogs wants to make a statement.
The problem is that the screenplay doesn’t always make an equally strong statement.
The Story Is The Weakest Link
At its core, 7 Dogs struggles with a surprisingly straightforward narrative.
The film moves between crime thriller territory and exaggerated action spectacle without completely settling into either mode. One moment it appears to be building a serious underworld story; the next, it embraces larger-than-life action and humour.
There is nothing inherently wrong with that combination. The issue is that the transitions do not always feel organic.
The story often seems to exist primarily to connect one action sequence to another.
Characters move from one location to the next, encounter a new threat, engage in a chase or fight, and then move on to the next set piece. This keeps the pace moving but does not necessarily make the audience emotionally invested in the journey.
By the time the film reaches its later portions, the pattern becomes increasingly familiar.
Ahmed Ezz And Karim Abdel Aziz Provide The Emotional Core
Ahmed Ezz, who plays Khalid, delivers a focused and physical performance.
He brings the seriousness required for an action protagonist and handles the demanding physical sequences convincingly. His character may not have the most layered writing, but Ezz gives him enough intensity to keep him watchable.
Karim Abdel Aziz, as Ghali, brings a contrasting energy to the film.
His comparatively relaxed presence works well alongside Ezz’s more intense performance. Their chemistry provides some of the film’s more enjoyable moments, particularly when the action briefly gives way to character interaction.
The two actors understand the tone of the film and make the central partnership work despite the limitations of the screenplay.
Monica Bellucci Adds Style To The Crime World
Monica Bellucci brings her trademark controlled screen presence to the film.
Her character operates within the criminal network and adds an element of sophistication to the otherwise explosive proceedings.
However, like several other supporting characters, she is not given enough material to become truly memorable.
The film introduces several potentially interesting personalities but rarely spends enough time developing them. As a result, many of them function more as pieces in the action machinery than as fully formed characters.
Salman Khan’s Cameo Is Short But Makes An Impact
For Indian audiences, one of the biggest attractions of 7 Dogs is undoubtedly Salman Khan.
Salman appears as Johar, but his role is relatively brief.
Even so, the actor’s natural star presence immediately changes the energy of the scenes in which he appears. His familiar charm and relaxed screen persona allow him to make an impression without needing a lengthy sequence.
The problem is that there simply isn’t enough material for Salman to become a meaningful part of the larger story.
His appearance feels more like a star-powered addition than an integral character arc.
But for fans, that may not matter.
Sometimes a superstar needs only a few minutes on screen to create a reaction, and Salman manages exactly that here.
Sanjay Dutt Goes Full Menacing
Sanjay Dutt also gets limited screen time as Ranjit.
Unlike Salman’s more effortless and charming appearance, Dutt leans into a more exaggerated, intimidating performance.
His underworld persona fits naturally into the film’s heightened world. He plays the character with a certain menace and theatricality, making his scenes stand out despite the limited screen time.
Like Salman, however, Dutt’s character isn’t given enough space to become a major component of the story.
Both stars leave an impression, but the film could have benefited from giving them more substantial material.
The Action Is Easily The Biggest Strength
If there is one area where 7 Dogs delivers consistently, it is action.
The film understands that its biggest selling point is spectacle and does not hold back.
Car chases are staged on a large scale, explosions are frequent and the physical fights carry genuine impact. The directors also use the environment effectively, allowing locations to become part of the action rather than simply serving as backgrounds.
Some sequences have an almost comic-book quality, with visual flourishes and stylised illustrations adding another layer to the presentation.
The action is often excessive—but that is clearly the point.
This is not a restrained thriller.
It is a film designed to be loud, fast and visually overwhelming.
But The Spectacle Can’t Completely Hide The Writing
The biggest issue is that 7 Dogs spends so much time trying to impress visually that it occasionally forgets to make the audience care.
The characters are thinly written.
Their motivations are often straightforward, their relationships are not explored deeply enough and their dialogue can feel functional rather than natural.
The humour also doesn’t always land.
Some jokes feel inserted into scenes simply to break the seriousness rather than emerging naturally from the characters.
The result is an action movie where the audience may enjoy individual sequences without necessarily becoming emotionally invested in the larger narrative.
The Film Moves Too Quickly Between Locations
Another weakness is the film’s constant movement.
7 Dogs travels through multiple locations and large-scale set pieces, but the rapid transitions sometimes work against the story.
Instead of making the world feel expansive, the frequent changes can make the narrative feel fragmented.
Just when a particular situation begins to develop, the film moves on to another chase, confrontation or location.
A little more breathing room could have allowed the characters and story to develop.
A Galaxy Of Stars, But Not Enough Character Development
The film’s cast is undeniably impressive.
Ahmed Ezz and Karim Abdel Aziz lead the story, while Monica Bellucci, Giancarlo Esposito and other supporting actors add international star power.
Then there are Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt.
But having a large cast is not the same as giving every actor a meaningful role.
Several characters are introduced with the potential to become important, only to remain largely underdeveloped.
This is particularly noticeable with the celebrity cameos. Salman and Dutt are memorable largely because of who they are, rather than because the screenplay gives their characters substantial arcs.
Can 7 Dogs Be Called A Good Action Film?
Yes—but with qualifications.
If your primary reason for watching 7 Dogs is action, there is plenty to enjoy.
The film delivers:
- Large-scale explosions
- High-speed car chases
- Elaborate stunt sequences
- Strong physical performances
- International locations
- Stylised visuals
- Salman Khan’s cameo
- Sanjay Dutt’s menacing appearance
But if you’re looking for a tightly written crime thriller with complex characters and unexpected twists, 7 Dogs may leave you wanting more.
The screenplay simply isn’t as ambitious as the production.
Final Verdict: Spectacle Wins, Story Loses
7 Dogs is the kind of movie that is best experienced on the biggest screen possible.
Its action sequences have scale, its production looks expensive and its cast brings enough star power to maintain interest. Ahmed Ezz and Karim Abdel Aziz make for an effective central pair, while Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt leave their mark despite limited screen time.
But once the explosions stop, the film’s biggest weakness becomes impossible to ignore.
The story is too thin, the characters are underwritten and the plot rarely surprises.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah deserve credit for delivering an ambitious action spectacle and demonstrating that Arabic cinema can mount a production of this scale. Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t always match that ambition.
Ultimately, 7 Dogs is more impressive than memorable.
If you’re heading to the theatre for action, explosions, car chases and star-powered moments, the film gives you enough bang for your buck. But if you’re expecting a gripping crime thriller with a story that stays with you after the credits roll, the film may disappoint.
Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt may steal a few moments, but it is the action that truly carries 7 Dogs—and the wafer-thin story that ultimately holds it back.
FAQs
1. What is 7 Dogs about?
7 Dogs is an action thriller built around crime, dangerous alliances, car chases, explosions and an international underworld. The film focuses heavily on action and spectacle.
2. Who directed 7 Dogs?
7 Dogs is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.
3. Who stars in 7 Dogs?
The film stars Ahmed Ezz, Karim Abdel Aziz, Monica Bellucci and Giancarlo Esposito, along with Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt in supporting appearances.
4. Are Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt in 7 Dogs?
Yes. Salman Khan appears as Johar, while Sanjay Dutt plays Ranjit. Both have limited screen time but make an impact with their respective performances.
5. Is 7 Dogs worth watching?
If you enjoy large-scale action, explosions, car chases and star-powered cameos, 7 Dogs offers plenty of spectacle. However, viewers looking for a strong and unpredictable story may find the screenplay underwhelming.
