A commercial success, the song peaked at number one on the South Korean Gaon Digital Chart for three weeks, marking Blackpink's second number-one single in the country.

It reached number one in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 and World Digital Songs charts.

Music Core and Inkigayo in South Korea, with the song's "finger gun" choreography becoming a representative dance move.

[2] Following a series of concept photos and teasers, Blackpink were reported saying, "As it is our debut mini-album and comeback after one year, we prepared each song with a lot of sincerity and affection."

[11] Park Bo-ram from Yonhap News Agency described the single's production as primarily hip-hop laced with "aggressive trap" beats,[12] while Im Eun-byel from The Korea Herald noted how the song's title resembled the sound of a gunshot, but also likened it to that of "a spell".

[13] Jennie commented how the group reacted when they heard the demo for the song: "When we first listened to the lead track 'Ddu-du Ddu-du,' we all thought, 'This is it.

Music producer Azodi commented that its "biggest riff" is already heard in the beginning, "but keeps a lot of space in the verses and chorus for a strong lead vocal line".

[14] Its production makes use of percolating synthesizers, while the chorus sees the group members delivering the refrain: "hit you with that 'ddu-du ddu-du'".

[20] Chase McMullen, writing for The 405, described the song as both "boisterous" and "beautifully ludicrous", and regarded the chorus to be "essentially nonsense".

[22] Furthermore, Benjamin added, "From the opening shoutout of their group name, Blackpink delivers one of the year's strongest anthems.

"[23] She ranked it the 26th best K-pop song of all time in a piece published by The Forty-Five in May 2023, remarking that it is rare for K-pop intros to be as recognizable as entrance of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du", and complimented the "perfect combination of rap braggadocio from Jennie and Lisa and powerhouse vocals from Rosé and Jisoo".

[24] Taylor Glasby from British GQ felt the song embodied the essence of "over the top" K-pop, highlighting the "hooky title refrain", the rappers' sly confidence in the verses, and the emotional build into the chorus that gave the members space to demonstrate their vocal ability.

[69] The track reached 45.5 million streams in the United Kingdom as of September 2022, becoming the group's most-streamed song in the country.

[70][71] In June 2021, the song was awarded a silver certification in the country by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for track-equivalent sales of 200,000 units.

[77] The track's music video primarily focuses on the choreography and features the group in high-end looks amid pink-and-black-hued sets.

[78][79] It depicts the group members with a variety of props and attires; Jennie appears as a queen on a chessboard and is seen sitting atop a diamond-encrusted tank with shopping bags.

[81] She initially stands unnoticed due to the wig she is wearing, however, the crowd begins to take notice and record her every move after she stumbles and falls while walking.

"[79] Writing for the July 2018 issue of Seoul Magazine, Kristina Manente expressed appreciation for the song's blend of traditional Korean instrumentals with the beat and bass of hip-hop, describing it as an "auditory delight".

Manente wrote that the fusion was reflected in the music video through its integration of elements from Korean architecture, and observed a recurring trend in South Korean music videos where traditional and contemporary elements are blended together, in which she thought contributed to their unique charm.

[30] Blackpink later revealed that the "gun-shooting hand gesture", featured during the chorus in the music video, was not included in the initial choreography; Jennie explained that the original move involved the members extending their arms, with palms facing downwards, while swaying their hands from side to side.

[37] YouTube Rewind named it the second most popular music video in South Korea during 2018, only behind "Love Scenario" by label-mate iKon.

[87] As part of promotions for Square Up, Blackpink premiered the song on live television along with "Forever Young" on Show!

Fans expressed discontent regarding the handling of the situation as many in the audience paid tickets to see the group and they did not return after being escorted off the stage.

[102] On January 31, 2021, the group performed the song as part of their set list for their virtual concert The Show; the stage was decorated with a display of fire and pyrotechnics and was transformed into a shallow pool.

[103] Matthew Mohan-Hickson from Billboard noted how "the fire and water elements shine" and deemed it one of the concert's standout moments.

[113] Writing for Sisa Journal, music critic Kim Young-dae observed that Blackpink's "sophisticated and edgy image", as showcased through the song and its "finger gun choreography", went on to become one of the most emblematic representations of girl groups globally.

[28] KBS Radio director Soyeon Kang commented that the song sent a global signal leading to Blackpink's emergence as the girl group capturing worldwide attention.