Housefull 5 Has Been At The Theatres For 3 Weeks. What Is The Box Office Verdict?
When Housefull 5 hit theatres on June 6, it wasn't just the latest installment in a long-running comedy franchise; it was a litmus test for Akshay Kumar's box office credibility in 2025.
After a turbulent 2024 and a lukewarm start to 2025, expectations were sky-high for the fifth chapter in the Housefull series.
Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film brought back a familiar ensemble and, with it, a familiar formula: double entendres, over-the-top caricatures, chaotic subplots and slapstick humour that's become the franchise's signature.
Now, three weeks since release, the numbers are in and the verdict is out. Housefull 5 may have been critically panned, but at the box office, it's been a completely different story.
Week 1 Breakdown
Housefull 5 opened to a strong start, releasing in over 5,000 screens worldwide in two versions (5A and 5B). Curiosity around the alternate endings, a nostalgia-powered fan base and limited box office competition gave it the push it needed.
Housefull 5 became Akshay Kumar's fourth-biggest opener after Mission Mangal, Sooryavanshi and Gold.
Here's the full Week 1 breakdown:
Day 1 (Friday): Rs 24 crore
Day 2 (Saturday): Rs 31 crore
Day 3 (Sunday): Rs 32.5 crore
Day 4 (Monday): Rs 13 crore
Day 5 (Tuesday): Rs 11.25 crore
Day 6 (Wednesday): Rs 8.5 crore
Day 7 (Thursday): Rs 7 crore
Week 1 Total: Rs 127.25 crore (India nett)
This was the first Akshay Kumar-led film since Good Newwz to cross the Rs 100 crore mark within four days.
Week 2 Breakdown
Week 2 saw the expected post-weekend dip, but Housefull 5 held on reasonably well, especially considering the mixed-to-negative critical reception.
Day 8 (Friday): Rs 6 crore
Day 9 (Saturday): Rs 9.5 crore
Day 10 (Sunday): Rs 11 crore
Day 11 (Monday): Rs 3.75 crore
Day 12 (Tuesday): Rs 4.25 crore
Day 13 (Wednesday): Rs 3 crore
Week 2 Total: Rs 37.5 crore (approx)
Cumulative Total (2 weeks): Rs 164.75 crore
Internationally, the film was also performing well, with the worldwide gross collection crossing Rs 212 crore by Day 9, according to official figures from the makers.
Week 3 Breakdown
By the time Housefull 5 entered its third week, newer releases began to eat into its screen count. Audience fatigue set in and the film began showing sharper drops. Yet, it continued adding to its tally, albeit in smaller amounts.
While the exact daily figures for Week 3 are still being compiled, early estimates suggest a third-week addition of Rs 8-10 crore, pushing the film's domestic net total close to Rs 173-175 crore.
The Final Verdict
With a reported budget of Rs 225 crore, Housefull 5 faced a steep recovery path. However, with Rs 175 crore domestic nett, Rs 200 crore gross in India and Rs 220+ crore global gross collections, the film has firmly placed itself in commercial success territory.
Trade analysts believe the sale of digital, satellite and overseas rights will bridge the remaining gap, classifying the film somewhere between a "semi-hit" and a "clean hit".
So What Worked (And What Didn't)?
What undeniably worked in Housefull 5 's favour was its box office pull, driven largely by Akshay Kumar's return to the comedy genre he's long been associated with and the enduring draw of the Housefull franchise.
Add to that, a massive global rollout with up to 21 shows per day in major multiplexes.
Another factor that helped was the curiosity-driven release of dual versions - 5A and 5B - which, despite negligible differences, created buzz.
But for all the footfall, what didn't work was almost everything else.
Critics and discerning viewers alike slammed the film for its crass humour, lazy writing, and its dated, objectifying portrayal of women.
Soundarya Sharma's character, in particular, stood out for all the wrong reasons - introduced in a hyper-sexualised manner and reduced to a walking, talking sight gag, she became emblematic of the film's larger issues.
The female cast overall had no agency, no arcs, and barely any lines. In terms of content, Housefull 5 failed to connect emotionally or intellectually, relying on tired tropes that felt more exhausting than entertaining.
The Bottom Line
Housefull 5 might not win any awards for writing, performances or innovation - in fact, many are still questioning how such storytelling still thrives in 2025. But its box office trajectory proves one uncomfortable truth: sexist, slapstick, regressive humour still sells in India, especially when packaged with nostalgia, stardom and scale.
So, is it a hit? Yes. Commercially. Is it a win for cinema? That's still very much up for debate.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Saiyaara': Producer Akshaye Widhwani addresses viral videos of fans crying and fainting in theatres
'Saiyaara,' starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda , is on its way to cross Rs 400 crores globally. The Mohit Suri-directed film has received immense love from the audience, and the numbers are proof. Post the release, videos of fans fainting, crying, and dancing in theatres after watching the film surfaced online. Soon, claims were made that all these fans were planted by the makers to hype up the movie. Now, the film's producer and YRF CEO, Akshaye Widhwani, has addressed all these speculations. Producer of Mohit Suri 's 'Saiyaara' addresses viral clips of fans fainting and crying In an interview with India Today, Widhwani clarified that videos surfacing online were not part of any PR strategy by the makers. He dismissed it, saying, "None of those people were planted in theatres." He went on to add that all videos showcasing fans expressing their emotions were "genuine" and "real." He shared that people started calling them about how much they cried, and he was thanking them for it. He said, "You find yourself saying, 'We're happy you cried,' because that's the kind of emotional connection Mohit has managed to create after so long." He stated that he doesn't remember the last time such a thing happened, when people felt so deeply while watching a movie. Mohit Suri talks about the response 'Saiyaara' received In the same interview, Mohit Suri shared that he has been receiving calls from all quarters and not just a section of people. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Donating Sperm May Support Your Income SpellRock Undo He added, "Directors, filmmakers, actors—everyone has been reaching out." The filmmaker expressed that he felt the praise was genuine for the first time, as usually people "are just being polite." He said, "But this time, there's been a sincere sense of love and support, which has been incredibly encouraging." Mohit said that he feels that the film has given people a voice they were waiting to express. Mahesh Bhatt: 'Saiyaara' Lacks Originality, Anupam Kher's 'Tanvi The Great' Shows True Voice More about 'Saiyaara' The film has now become Mohit Suri's biggest hit. It has crossed Rs 270 crore at the box office in India. As per Sacnilk, the film will surpass the Rs 300 crore mark. It was released in theatres on July 18, 2025.
News18
44 minutes ago
- News18
Kim Kardashian's Butt to Heidi Klum's Leg: Celebs Who Insured Their Body Parts
Last Updated: July 31, 2025, 16:37 IST Oscar-nominated actress and singer Cynthia Erivo insured her mouth for Rs 16 crore. However, she is not the first celebrity to insure a body part. From legs to butts, here's a look at other stars who have insured their body parts.
Indian Express
44 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Saiyaara producer denies planting crying, emotionally-charged fans in theatres: ‘These are genuine fan reactions'
Mohit Suri's directorial Saiyaara has surprised many with its strong performance at the box office. Audience reactions from theatres have also been going viral on social media, with several videos showing extreme emotional responses — one person was even seen arriving at a theatre with an IV drip, while others were captured crying uncontrollably or even fainting. While many considered these reactions to be genuine, a section of the internet speculated that it was all a marketing ploy by the makers of the film, accusing them of planting fans in the audience to promote the movie. However, the film's producer has now set the record straight. In an interaction with India Today, Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani, whose banner produced the film, refuted all such claims and said, 'None of those people were planted in theatres.' He added, 'Whether it's the person on a drip, the one yelling at the screen, or the guy who took off his shirt and danced – these are genuine fans reacting with real emotions. It's funny when you start receiving calls from people telling you how much they cried, and you're actually thanking them for it. You find yourself saying, 'We're happy you cried,' because that's the kind of emotional connection Mohit has managed to create after so long. This experience of going to the cinema and feeling something so deeply – I honestly can't remember the last time it happened.' In a recent interview with SCREEN, Mohit Suri opened up about how YRF came on board as the producers of Saiyaara. 'I don't think we make our films, our films make themselves. I had directed the sequel of an action franchise — Ek Villain Returns (2022) — and it had not done well. There were a bunch of big-budget, larger-than-life movies being made around then. I was halfway through writing an action movie when I realised that so many films are blowing up helicopters and buildings. I decided to make a romantic musical with newcomers instead. I asked my assistant Sankalp Sadanah to write this movie and got Rohan Shankar to write the dialogues. One day, I bumped into Sumanna Ghosh of YRF and she asked if I've the script of a love story. Within a week, they called me and Adi Sir told me that they were looking for a movie like this,' he said. In its 13 days of release, Saiyaara has earned Rs 413 crore worldwide. It marked debut of actor Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda.
