Bollywood’s biggest comedy franchise has unleashed its most ambitious chapter yet. Housefull 5, starring Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh, has stormed the box office with a thunderous ₹13.94 crore advance booking debut—setting the stage for the year’s biggest comedy opening .
⚡ The Numbers Breakdown: A Historic Start
- Day 1 Collection: ₹13.94 crore (including block bookings), with Housefull 5A contributing ₹5.67 crore (1.76 lakh tickets) and Housefull 5B adding ₹2.35 crore (76,543 tickets) .
- Regional Dominance: Maharashtra led with ₹2.95 crore, followed by Delhi-NCR (₹2.34 crore), Gujarat (₹1.25 crore), and Karnataka (₹1.02 crore) .
- Screen Impact: Released on 5,000+ screens—the widest ever for an Indian comedy—and Akshay Kumar’s career .
Trade analysts project a ₹22–25 crore opening day, potentially Akshay’s best post-COVID start .
🎬 The Dual-Ending Experiment: Bollywood’s Bold Gamble
In a first for mainstream Indian cinema, Housefull 5 releases in two versions:
- Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B, each featuring unique climaxes and killers .
- Producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s 30-year vision: “Why should audiences have just one version of the truth?” .
- The strategy aims to boost rewatch value and spoiler-proof the murder-mystery plot centered on a £69 billion inheritance war aboard a luxury cruise .
🌟 Star Power & Behind-the-Scenes Chaos
- 19 A-listers headline the cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Nana Patekar—whose viral “Phoogdi dance” is a highlight .
- BTS Gold: A behind-the-scenes clip of the song “Laal Pari” (21M views in 24 hours) shows Abhishek Bachchan nailing Nora Fatehi’s “Haye Garmi” hook step. Amitabh Bachchan cheered on X: “Hahaha… what fun fun fun!!!” .
- Director Tarun Mansukhani called the shoot “mad and magical,” citing stormy sea shoots and non-stop improvisation .
🎭 Early Reviews: Chaotic Fun or Creative Misstep?
- Praise: “A hilarious joyride! Akshay’s comic timing is gold” .
- Critique: “Overly chaotic plot, but saved by sheer energy” .
- Audience Draw: The franchise’s trademark slapstick meets murder mystery—a genre mash-up testing new waters .
💰 Budget & Business Prospects
- Cost: ₹225 crore—India’s most expensive comedy ever .
- Pre-release Recovery: 60% of costs covered via digital, music, and satellite rights .
- Target: Needs ₹200 crore net domestically to hit “hit” status .
❓ FAQ: Quick Fire Round
- Why two versions?
To innovate the theatrical experience—each screen reveals a different killer . - How did advance bookings fare vs. 2025 peers?
94,750 tickets at national chains—3rd after Chhaava (223K) and Sikandar (143K) . - Best audience moment?
Abhishek’s “Garmi” step and Amitabh’s viral reaction .
💡 The Bottom Line
Housefull 5 merges Bollywood’s love for scale with unprecedented experimentation. While its ₹13.94 crore advance reflects franchise power, its long-term success hinges on audience appetite for dual-endings and unabashed chaos. As Nana Patekar’s Dagdu Sir might say: “Phoogli naach, par paisa vasool!” 💃💰
Have you booked tickets for 5A, 5B—or both? Share your #Housefull5EndingTheory below! 👇
FAQ: Housefull 5 – Dual Endings, Record Bookings & Bachchan Mania
Q1: How much did Housefull 5 earn in advance bookings?
A: The film smashed records with ₹13.94 crore in Day 1 advance bookings – comprising ₹5.67 crore for Housefull 5A (176K tickets) and ₹2.35 crore for Housefull 5B (76.5K tickets) nationally.
Q2: Why are there two versions (5A and 5B)?
A: Inspired by Netflix’s Choose Your Own Adventure films, Housefull 5 releases with two different climaxes and killers – a Bollywood first. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala aims to boost rewatch value and spoiler-proof the £69 billion cruise-ship murder mystery.
Q3: What’s the Amitabh Bachchan viral BTS moment?
A: Amitabh reacted to a behind-the-scenes clip where Abhishek Bachchan perfectly replicated Nora Fatehi’s “Haye Garmi” hook step. His tweet: “Hahaha… what fun fun fun!!!” went viral, with the video hitting 21M views in 24 hours.
Q4: Is Housefull 5 Akshay Kumar’s biggest opener?
A: With ₹13.94 crore in advances, it’s tracking for a ₹22-25 crore opening day – potentially Akshay’s best post-pandemic start (Bade Miyan Chote Miyan opened at ₹15.6 crore).
Q5: Should I watch both versions?
A: Critics recommend:
“Watch 5A for slick thrills; 5B for absurdist humor. Both deliver the franchise’s trademark chaos!” – Film Companion