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Amidst a season brimming with high-profile releases, ‘Housefull 5’ arrives as a fresh entry that promises laughter with a twist. Released on June 6, 2025, this Akshay Kumar-starring comedy thriller adds a new flavour to the well-known franchise. As audiences and critics turn their attention to its performance and reception, all eyes are on its impact. Let’s explore how the movie measures up in both entertainment and box office numbers. A Premise with Two Different Prints Set on a lavish cruise, the story kicks off with the mysterious murder of billionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal at the hands of a masked assailant. Chaos follows, staying true to the franchise’s signature blend of slapstick humour and comic confusion. Police officers Bhidu and Baba dive into the investigation, while Julius joins forces with other passengers to uncover the truth. The suspense deepens with a twist- two alternate versions of the film, ‘Housefull 5A’ and ‘Housefull 5B’. Collectively, the story offers different killer reveals, leaving viewers guessing until the final frame. Neat Humour but Slow-Paced Storyline The movie kicks off with promise, striking a lively balance between comedy and suspense. In the first half, Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh shine through. Their timing, expressions, and witty one-liners carry the narrative with ease. Nostalgia is woven cleverly, recalling iconic bits like ‘Prada ka beta Gucci’ and even reviving the monkey from earlier instalments, much to fans’ delight. Read more: June 2025 Bollywood Movie Lineup: Top 10 Most-Anticipated Hindi Films Adult humour finds its place too, handled with restraint and smart writing. The early segments remain crisp and engaging. But as the interval approaches, things begin to slip. The plot feels stretched. After the break, the grip loosens. Momentum fades as the screenplay struggles to manage the massive cast. The attempt to give each character a share of the spotlight leads to bloat, pushing the runtime to 165 minutes. Despite all the effort, several characters end up feeling like fillers, appearing briefly with minimal impact. Just before the twist, the pace picks up again. The twist lands well, and Bobby Deol’s late appearance injects some freshness. A smart reveal involving Abhishek Bachchan adds to the intrigue. The climax manages to be both unexpected and amusing. The franchise’s usual tone, fun beyond logic, remains intact, though this time a touch of logic joins the party. Still, the overstuffed cast and excessive length dilute the overall experience. If the pre-climax stretch had been tighter, the film could have truly lived up to the makers’ tall claims. A Huge Star-Studded Cast in the Lead With a staggering ensemble of 17 lead actors, ‘Housefull 5’ carries a weighty cast. Yet, it is Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff who leave the strongest impression. Both are offered well-crafted scenes and deliver them with seasoned flair. Akshay maintains his dominance with effortless humour, driven largely by his eccentric expressions. Riteish Deshmukh and Abhishek Bachchan also make their presence felt through sharp comic timing. Read more: Judwaa: A Pakistani Drama about Twin Sisters Becomes Internet Obsession The female leads – Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, and Jacqueline Fernandez – serve primarily as visual highlights. While they contribute a few amusing moments in the first half, their roles gradually fade as the narrative progresses. Their impact remains confined to their glamour appeal. Among the supporting cast, Johnny Lever stands out as the sole performer with well-written scenes and effective punchlines. Others, including Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea, Shreyas Talpade, Nikitin Dheer, Chitrangada Singh, and Chunky Pandey, are largely under-utilised. Shreyas Talpade is nearly invisible. Fardeen Khan manages a few decent moments, though without lasting effect. Nana Patekar’s cameo is a clear standout. His entry is impactful, commanding attention despite limited screen time. Even in a serious tone, he introduces a fresh layer of humour. Bobby Deol, appearing towards the end, adds an unexpected twist to close the character lineup. Music, Screenplay, and Direction Sajid Nadiadwala handles the story and screenplay, while Tarun Mansukhani takes charge of direction. Their collaboration shows strength in the first half, maintaining a light, engaging rhythm. However, the second half struggles with consistency. Read more: Eid-ul-Azha 2025 Bengali TV Drama Preview: Top Upcoming Bangladeshi Natoks Set to Spark the Festival Balancing a murder mystery within a comic framework proves challenging. The narrative loses its grip as it tries to manage both genres. Music, a trademark of the ‘Housefull’ series, falls short this time. Unlike past chart-toppers like ‘Aapka Kya Hoga (Dhanno)’ or, ‘Anarkali Disco Chali’ only ‘Laal Pari’ leaves a lasting impression. The remaining tracks are enjoyable but forgettable. Box Office Earnings: Akshay’s Historical Achievement Backed by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, ‘Housefull 5’ was made on a budget of Rs 225 crore. It opened with a robust global earning of Rs 37.25 crore, securing the third-highest opening for a Bollywood film in 2025. Over the first weekend, the film collected between Rs 130.50 crore and Rs 131.50 crore worldwide. The figure surpasses ‘Sooryavanshi’ (Rs 118 crore) to mark Akshay Kumar’s biggest weekend yet. Within four days, the comedy thriller entered the Rs 100 crore club domestically. After drawing Rs 32.5 crore on Sunday, it maintained momentum with Rs 13.5 crore on Monday, taking the total India box office tally to Rs 101 crore. Read more: Top 10 Netflix Originals Streaming in June 2025 On the international front, the Indian film crossed the USD 1 million mark at the North American box office. This milestone marks Akshay’s 28th film to do so, further strengthening his overseas track record. According to trade analyst Nishit Shaw, Akshay stands just behind Shah Rukh Khan in the million-dollar club rankings. While Shah Rukh leads with 32 films, Akshay holds second with 28, edging past Salman Khan, who has 25 films on the list. Verdict Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Housefull 5’ features two alternate versions, subtitled 5A and 5B. Though the film delivers neat humour, it suffers from a sluggish story pace. The amazing blend of comedy and thriller boasts a massive star-studded ensemble in this film. However, not all are meaningfully utilised. Despite narrative flaws, the Nadiadwala production has struck gold at the box office, crossing INR 100 crore domestically and USD 1 million in North America. Marking Akshay’s 28th entry in the million-dollar club, the movie stands as both a significant highlight in his career and a gem for Indian cinema. Read more: Top Amazon Prime Originals to Binge-Watch in June 2025

With the enduring charm of Hindi cinema captivating global audiences, Bollywood continues to be the heart of India’s film legacy. June 2025 brings a cinematic feast across horror, comedy, thriller, mystery, and drama. Each promises visual spectacle featuring newcomers, rising talents, and beloved stars. Let’s explore the top 10 Bollywood movies lighting up screens this June, each promising a story worth watching. 10 Most Anticipated Hindi Movies Releasing This June . Main Bhi Arjun: Parv / Biography / June 3, 2025 The narrative traces the extraordinary life of child prodigy Parv Thacker, who was born with clubfoot. He overcomes adversity to become the Global Ambassador of ‘Global Clubfoot Awareness Parv’. Not only that, he is also up for India's youngest singer, entrepreneur, and Bhagavad Gita Bharat Ambassador. His inspiring path draws strength from Indian cultural wisdom, rooted in Indian legendary icons like the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana. Besides directing the movie and crafting its script, Krupesh Thacker and Pooja Thacker assume the pivotal roles along with Parv Thacker in the lead. Read more: Judwaa: A Pakistani Drama about Twin Sisters Becomes Internet Obsession The production is spearheaded by Esy ID and Krup Productions. Housefull 5 / Comedy Thriller / June 6, 2025 The fifth chapter of the Housefull series, this movie takes shape under the direction of Tarun Mansukhani, who co-wrote it with Farhad Samji. Firuzi Khan, Sajid Nadiadwala, and Warda Nadiadwala of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment steer the production. The ensemble cast includes Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Jacqueline Fernandez, Jackie Shroff, Shreyas Talpade, Fardeen Khan, Nana Patekar, Dino Morea, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangada Singh, Johnny Lever, Sonam Bajwa, Chunky Pandey, Soundarya Sharma, and Nikitin Dheer. Read more: Sardaarji 3: First Look of the Horror Comedy Echoes ‘Stree’ The plotline unfolds aboard a luxury cruise where a billionaire's mysterious death spirals into a frantic whodunit laced with the franchise’s hallmark slapstick chaos. Akshay Kumar’s character leads a hilariously unorthodox investigation. Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff appear as baffled officers navigating layers of nautical nonsense. Shraap 3D / Horror / June 19, 2025 Backed by Neelam Sharma Entertainment, this horror film boasts Faisal Saif as its writer and director. With a script written in both Tamil and Hindi, this movie’s plot unfolds with a CBI officer who has experience with a ghost. Rajpal Yadav and Kavita Radheshyam portray the lead characters with a supporting cast of Mythriya Gowda, Nishant Pandey, Dev Sharma, Yashpal Sharma, and Himani Shivpuri. Sitaare Zameen Par / Sports Comedy / June 20, 2025 Positioned as a spiritual heir to ‘Taare Zameen Par’ (2007), this emotionally charged sports drama reinterprets the 2018 Spanish film, ‘Champions’. This time, Aamir Khan shares the screen with Genelia Deshmukh. R. S. Prasanna takes the director’s seat, and Divy Nidhi Sharma serves as the writer. Aparna Purohit, along with Aamir Khan, drives the production. Read more: Pakistani Drama Tere Bin Emerges as an All-Time Audience Favourite The story begins with a disgraced basketball coach sentenced to community service after a DUI, tasked with training a team of neurodivergent adults. What starts as resistance slowly gives way to revelation. His assumptions crumble under the weight of empathy, growth, and newfound understanding. The trio, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, is behind the song composition with lyrics of Amitabh Bhattacharya. Ram Sampath takes charge of the film’s background score. Detective Sherdil / Comedy Mystery / June 20, 2025 Directed by Ravi Chhabriya, this mystery comedy thrives with Ali Abbas Zafar as its writer. Diana Penty, Diljit Dosanjh, and Boman Irani embody the key characters. Read more: Eid-ul-Azha 2025 Bengali TV Drama Preview: Top Upcoming Bangladeshi Natoks Set to Spark the Festival The premise centres on an amateur sleuth whose overzealous antics fuel a simulated comedy woven through a criminal case. The production credit goes to AAZ Films, Maurya Entertainment, and Offside Entertainment.