Newton was released to critical praise and was also a commercial success. On the Indian film review aggregator website The Review Monk,
Newton received a 7.5 out of 10 average score based on 23 reviews.
Rajeev Masand gave the film a rating of 4 stars out of 5 and said that, "
Newton is relevant and timely without being boring or inaccessible. You could say it lays on its message too thick in the end, or that the pace occasionally slips. But these are minor nigglings that never dent the impact of its thrust." Neil Soans of
The Times of India gave the film a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, saying, "
Newton has dared to take on an issue that our vast majority turns a blind eye to, and slaps us out of our blissful ignorance. Amidst laughing, it'll leave you thinking, which - and we need to be reminded of this - is what good cinema should do. Both your funny bone and your grey cells will thank you for watching it." Soans praised the performances of the cast - particularly that of Rao and Tripathi - and the screenplay by Masurkar and Tewari. Suhani Singh of
India Today gave the film a rating of 4 stars out of 5 and said that, "
Newton is a dark comedy that gives you equal measures of dread and disillusionment and hope and hilarity. It makes you see the pitfalls of the democratic system but also tells you that it's the only one capable of positive change. This is reality at its finest, with credible performances and backdrops that immerse viewers into the world and where even the faces of the background characters leave a heartbreaking impression." Shubhra Gupta of
The Indian Express gave the film a rating of 4 stars out of 5 saying that, "Director Amit V Masurkar and co-scriptwriter Mayank Tewari have crafted a strong black comedy. It is as sharp and subversive as the classic
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, and even though it is entirely sobering, it leaves us feeling just a little better about ourselves." She also praised the performances of the actors saying, "Rajkummar Rao is enjoying a purple patch. After
Bareilly Ki Barfi, here he is again stitching up a big performance full of small things: blinking, thinking, doing. He is at his most interesting when he is being quiet: he makes us watch. Pankaj Tripathi, as the head of the security detail, cynical yet doing the best he can, is lovely too. For once the talented Patil has been used well, and as for Raghubir Yadav, he gives us, after
Peepli Live, another stand-out act, a lesson in How To Immerse Yourself Effortlessly In Your Role. Rohit Vats of
Hindustan Times gave the film a rating of 4 stars out of 5 and said that, "It is one of the finest political satires we have seen in the last couple of years. It refrains from taking sides and offers a humorous take on state versus the Maoists bloody battle. It raises questions on the importance of the electoral system we are so proud of. It takes us much beyond what we see. The team of Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Raghuvir Yadav and Anjali Patil has come up with a top-notch performance." Harish Wankhede calls Newton 'A new Dalit Hero' in the Indian Express review. He suggests that the most reviews of the film neglect the protagonist's social identity, while emphasising the film's creative aspects. "Newton, no doubt, is a refreshing entry in the genre of commercial art house cinema. However, more significantly, the director offers a new social imaginary to depict the film’s protagonist. A new Dalit hero is offered to the audience through the subtle use of certain symbolic gestures and social codes."
Newton received a warm response at its premiere at the
Berlin Film Festival. It also won the
CICAE Award for best film in the Forum Section.
The Huffington Post wrote "
Newton is a touching, personal and very human film about the strength of one very resolute rookie election clerk to uphold the democratic process in a rebel-threatened area."
Newton was India's official entry for the 90th Academy Awards; it was also the first Indian film to receive a grant of Rs 1 crore from the
Central Government. ==Release==