Shashiprasad SM of Times Now rated the film three-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "Unlike most police stories which show them in bad light, this one focuses on the personal side with some good humour attached to it.

"[26] Prathibha Joy of OTTplay gave it three out of five stars and wrote, "Bharath Raj M’s film is simple fun; there’s nothing ground-breaking about it and you’ll probably figure out where it’s headed miles before you get to the finish line.

"[28] Sunayana Suresh of The South First gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "Laughing Buddha is an ideal family film, blending laughter, romance, and drama in just the right amounts.

"[29] Vivek M. V. of The Hindu wrote that "Laughing Buddha is more enjoyable for its empathetic take on the stressful lives of police officers than for its sub-plot involving a mysterious criminal".

[2] A critic from The Times of India gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "Despite a few minor flaws, Laughing Buddha is a worthwhile watch for a weekend.

"[30] A Sharadhaa of Cinema Express rated the movie 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Laughing Buddha is proof that it can and that even hefty topics can be approached with humour, keeping audiences entertained while reflecting on real-life challenges.