🎬 Housefull 5 – Movie Review
📅 Release & Box Office
Released on June 6, 2025, Housefull 5 marked the first Bollywood franchise to reach a fifth installment. It began with a 7upbet strong opening—netting around ₹22–24 crore on day one, landing as the third-biggest Bollywood opener of 2025; within three days, earnings surpassed ₹50 crore Despite one outlet calling its start “lukewarm” at ₹23 crore , its upward trajectory confirms it’s a commercial hit.
📖 Plot & Format
Departing from pure slapstick, Housefull 5 combines comedy with a murder-mystery twist aboard a luxurious cruise from London through Europe. A unique gimmick: it offers two alternate endings—Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B—each resolving the murder differently, boosting audience curiosity
👥 Cast & Performances
A true ensemble spectacle, featuring franchise regulars and new faces:
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Akshay Kumar leads with his trademark comic flair.
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Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nana Patekar, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Chitrangada Singh and others add flavor
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Critics highlighted Abhishek Bachchan, Chitrangada Singh, and Nana Patekar for adding depth and energy .
😂 Humor & Direction
Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film is a high-voltage rollercoaster—chaotic, loud, and visually grand . The teaser promised a “killer comedy” full of twists
Comedy is very much Housefull-style: broad, slapstick, occasionally recycled gags. Reviewers praised the dual‑ending approach as clever innovation, though they also critiqued the reliance on formulaic humor
📝 Critical Reception
Reviews are mixed to negative, balancing fun and flaws:
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Hindustan Times (3/5): “Relies heavily on Akshay’s charm… feels like being stuck on a cruise with comic veterans and a script that forgot to board”
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Firstpost (2.5/5): Key performances “jolly good,” especially Abhishek Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Chitrangada Singh, but overall “overstretch”
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NDTV (1.5/5): Calls it “madcap” but ultimately “unalloyed bilge”
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Indian Express (1/5): Sees it as another loud, formulaic farce
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The Hindu: Labels it “sporadically funny and unapologetically corny”—the thriller angle might be more effective
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Hollywood Reporter India: Critiques its male-gaze focus and lack of substance
🙌 What Works
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Box-office success—the franchise remains a reliable draw.
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Fresh format: dual endings and murder-mystery twist are bold moves.
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Strong cast delivering comedic chemistry and occasional standout moments.
⚠️ What Falls Flat
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Weak screenplay—heavily reliant on recycled jokes.
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Tonality mismatch—slapstick humor clashes with the darker whodunit aspect.
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Critical backlash—the film’s frenetic energy doesn’t appeal to everyone.
✅ Final Verdict
Housefull 5 delivers exactly what its fans expect: loud entertainment, star-studded cameos, and a nifty murder mystery twist—made more fun with its two endings. It’s a box-office winner, though critically panned for its lack of depth. As a summer popcorn entertainer, it works—just don’t expect anything profound beyond laughs and spectacle.
🎯 Rating Snapshot
| Aspect | Rating |
|---|---|
| Box Office | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (strong) |
| Innovation | ⭐⭐⭐ (dual endings, mystery twist) |
| Humor | ⭐⭐ (broad, recycled) |
| Critical Response | ⭐⭐ (mixed to negative) |
| Overall | ⭐⭐½ (Solid summer fun) |
Whether you enjoy slapstick romps or niche thrillers, Housefull 5 offers a wild, uproarious cruise adventure—chaotic but undeniably entertaining.