"Don 2" was released on 23 December 2011. The film had a mixed to positive reception from critics, receiving praise for the cast's performance, cinematography, production design, and action sequences. However, its pace and music received criticism. With a box office gross of over , "Don 2" was a big box office success. At the time of its release, the film was one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time and is the highest-grossing Indian film of 2011. The film received a number of accolades across various ceremonies in India. The film received five nominations at the 57th Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Director for Akhtar and Best Actor for Khan, winning Best Sound Design and Best Action.