- Title: Housefull 5 (released in two versions: Housefull 5A and 5B)
- Release Date: June 6, 2025 (theatrical) Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15Times Mantra+15
- Director: Tarun Mansukhani (making his debut in the franchise) The Indian Express+13Wikipedia+13The Times of India+13
- Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Wikipedia+4Bollywood Crazies+4www.ndtv.com+4
👥 Cast
Plot centers around three men all claiming to be the billionaire heir “Jolly”:
- Akshay Kumar (Julius)
- Abhishek Bachchan (Jalbhushan)
- Riteish Deshmukh (Jalabuddin)
Supporting ensemble includes Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Johnny Lever, Chunky Panday, Shreyas Talpade, Chitrangada Singh, Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea, and others www.ndtv.com+15Reddit+15The Times of India+15.
📖 Story & Unique Format
Set aboard a luxury cruise during billionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal’s 100th birthday party, the plot combines comedy, identity confusion, and murder mystery:
- Everyone believes Ranjeet designated “Jolly” as his heir—but three claimants emerge, each with a matching birthmark Times Mantra+3The Economic Times+3Analytics Insight+3
- After the DNA test leads to a murder, chaos ensues. Two police officers—played by Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff—join the proceedings to unearth the truth Analytics Insight
Bold experiment: Released in two separate versions—5A and 5B—each with a different ending and final culprit, making it Bollywood’s first large-scale dual-climax film WikipediaMaharashtra TimesAnalytics Insight.
💸 Budget & Box Office
- Budget: ₹225–₹225 crore, making it the most expensive comedy in Indian cinema to date Wikipedia+3The Indian Express+3The Times of India+3
- Box Office:
- Collected approximately ₹175.95 crore net in India, ranking as the second-highest grossing Hindi film of 2025 behind Sitaare Zameen Par Times Mantra+4Wikipedia+4The Times of India+4
- Advance Booking: ₹4.38 crore from 141,086 tickets, with gross estimates of ~₹9.6 crore including block seats The Indian Express
🚢 Production Notes & Filming
- Shot primarily aboard a cruise sailing through London → France → Spain → back to the UK—a first for an entire Bollywood film The Times of India+2Bollywood Crazies+2Reddit+2
- Filming spanned a 45-day schedule on a real cruise ship, alongside some climax shoot in Mumbai, completed by late 2024 Bollywood Crazies+1The Times of India+1
- A minor on-set injury to Akshay Kumar reportedly occurred during an action scene, though production continued without major delay Reddit+1The Economic Times+1
🎭 Reception & Critique
🎉 What fans praised:
- High-energy ensemble chaos, Akshay Kumar’s comic timing, and the killer reveal twist were well received by fans and audiences on social media The Economic Times
- Seen as a return to form for the franchise’s comedic roots, with novelty in storytelling (double endings, murder twist) Analytics Insight+1The Economic Times+1
⚠️ Criticisms:
- Viewers complained of overuse of double-entendre jokes, a lack of substance, and repetitive slapstick humor Indiatimes
- Some online reviews even called it “rubbish,” citing poor writing and formula fatigue Indiatimes
✅ Quick Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Release | June 6, 2025 (films 5A and 5B) |
| Genre & Format | Comedy‑mystery with dual endings, ensemble cast comedy on a cruise |
| Stars | Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, ensemble cast |
| Budget | ₹225 crore (Bollywood’s costliest comedy) |
| Box Office India | ₹175.95 crore net; 2nd highest grosser of 2025 |
| Reception | Mixed: praised for energy and novelty, criticized for dated humor |
| OTT Stream | Amazon Prime Video expected late July – early August 2025 |
🎥 Final Thoughts
Housefull 5 revives the familiar franchise formula with a fresh twist—murder mystery mixed with high-jinx comedy. It stands out for its two alternate climaxes, grand cruise setting, and massive star cast. While box office success reflects fan enjoyment, critical feedback points to tired jokes and lack of narrative depth.
If you enjoy over-the-top Bollywood comedy with big stars and don’t mind cheesy humor, this is likely to entertain. But if you’re hoping for sharp writing or meaningful story arcs, maybe skip the wave until it lands on streaming.
Would you like to see the trailer, check out OTT availability details, or explore fan reactions?
Further reading on Housefull 5 reactions and box office
