The film begins with the inherent drawbacks carried over from its predecessors, particularly the chasing sequence in the second half, reminiscent of Maneesh Sharma's earlier work, FAN. Tiger 3 picks up the story of Tiger and Zoya, resuming their national duties after the events of Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai. The narrative takes a personal turn, focusing more on Salman Khan's character, Tiger.

Tiger 3 faces criticism for its lazy title choice, lack of effort in hinting at a continuous story, and a villain, Aatish Rehman (Emraan Hashmi), characterized as a caricature of a stereotypical antagonist from the neighboring country. The film's screenplay by Shridhar Raghavan is likened to that of Pathaan, showcasing a similar villain backstory but lacking the menacing style seen in Pathaan's Jim (John Abraham).

The film is faulted for its weak storytelling, with staged and unclear dialogues that make it challenging for the audience to grasp the plot entirely. The initial pacing issues and a lack of effort to explain the mission's details contribute to the film's overall confusion. Certain sequences, including Katrina Kaif's fight scene and Salman Khan's theft from a bell tower, are criticized for their lack of context and clarity.

Tiger 3 introduces numerous plot twists, but they fail to engage the audience effectively. The film's attempts to fill in loopholes with additional characters and twists are seen as detracting from the overall narrative. The geopolitical mode and the introduction of Project Milap are deemed less interesting than the film's action sequences.

Despite Salman Khan's impressive entry and emotional depth in certain scenes, his efforts are undermined by poorly choreographed action sequences. Katrina Kaif's potential is acknowledged, but the film fails to let her character take center stage, relegating her to a catalyst for Tiger's heroism.

Emraan Hashmi's portrayal of Aatish Rehman as a weak and stereotypical villain receives criticism, with his slow-motion sequences and dialogues failing to make an impact. Maneesh Sharma's direction is questioned as a questionable decision for the YRF Spy Universe, and the film's overall lack of coherence and jarring jump cuts contribute to its disappointment.

Tiger 3 is considered a weak addition to the YRF Spy Universe, lacking the engaging narrative and impactful action sequences seen in its predecessors. The film's confusion, weak characterizations, and pacing issues overshadow any potential strengths it may have possessed.