Bollywood bounced back much to its past glory in 2025, with a remarkable display of star-studded commercial cinema and story-centric films to boot that broke box office records. Leading the way is Chhaava, Vicky Kaushals's historical-drama tour de force that has led with a massive total of ₹783–807 crore worldwide – confirming its worthiness as the biggest Bollywood grosser of the year so far. Not too far behind is Akshay Kumar's action-thriller, Sky Force, which reaped in ₹144–168 crore, including a significant international box office from its gripping fighter jet action and true-to-life accounts of patriotism. Ajay Devgn's sequel to the crime narrative of Raid which is titled Raid 2 continues to thrive and has earned ₹219–242 crore showcasing the demand for engaging investigative films. Salman Khan asserting the role of play-up and mass entertain, produced Sikandar, which has gained approximately ₹176 crore worldwide, despite critics' conflicting opinion, illustrating once again what starpower can deliver upfront. The epic-spanning, Kesari Chapter 2, rounded out a top-five gross by approximately ₹142–144 crore, proving that mass interest in grand war narratives remains steady. Joining them in the Top 10 are crowd-pleasers with titles that include the slapstick comedy Housefull 5, rural drama Jaat, and eccentric redemption rom-com Bhool Chuk Maaf, each garnering ₹75–90 crore and exhibiting a good mix of genres. Berserking mid-budget thrillers and dramas such as Deva, Emergency, Fateh, and feel-good rom-com Mere Husband Ki Biwi posted sensible returns in the ₹12–60 crore range. In each case, the above-stated Top 10 simply illustrates Bollywood's capacity for both engineered popular films and credible mid-range films. While the box office heroes faced by 2025 audience members included larger than life historical epics and high-velocity action films alongside heartfelt comedies and political melodramas; they remained token imprints of a constantly evolving Indian audience and screen industry's affirmation of content—alongside star power—being king in current Hindi cinema.
10. Sky Force (155.4cr):
Sky Force is a 2025 Bollywood action-drama directed by Abhishek Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, and stars Akshay Kumar in a powerful leading role. Set in the context of the 1965 war between India and Pakistan, the film is a dramatization of India’s first and largest aerial attack, showcasing the bravery, intellect, and danger faced by those in the Indian Air Force. With fast-paced air-combat scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat, an engaging storyline, rich characters, and a healthy dose of patriotism, Sky Force combined true events with high-octane entertainment. The cinematography was bold and striking, and Akshay Kumar’s performance was gripping in the morbid way that a forklift is gripping when backing a beeping truck. Released on Gandhi Jayanti, Sky Force became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films released in 2025, pulling in over ₹168 crore worldwide, and reaffirming Akshay's will-they-won't they star power at the box office. Sky Force's impressive displays and performance were recognized as it received a tonne of positive remarks from viewers including audiences from tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
9. Sikandar (182.7cr):
Sikandar is an action-drama film from 2025 directed by A. R. Murugadoss, and stars Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna. It was released on Eid (March 30). The film began with an opening weekend of ₹26–30 crore, but then it immediately fell off, where the day-3 collection fell 44% and soon after shows were cancelled and the word-of mouth was terrible. Although Sikandar had a high budget of ₹200 crore, it ended its theatrical run with a global collection of around ₹175–185 crore; it therefore stands out as one of the most notable flops of the year. Critics all slayed the embarrassing screenplay, tired storyline, and poor execution: “embarrassing execution… tired story with zero emotions”. Ultimately, Sikandar teaches us that star appeal alone is not enough to guarantee success, and that both content and execution really matter in the hyper-competitive Bollywood of 2025. "Sikandar Box Office Day 23: Salman Khan’s ₹200 Cr Epic Struggles, Despite Crossing ₹153 Cr Worldwide - Live India"
8. Game Changer (195.8cr):
Game Changer is an upcoming Telugu film in the political action thriller genre. Directed by S. Shankar and written by Karthik Subbaraj, the film stars Ram Charan in the lead role, along with Kiara Advani, Lang Sheen, Anjali, SJ Suryah, Sunil, Srikanth, and Naveen Chandra. The film tells the story of an idealistic IAS officer who enters the world of politics to try and change the system, and to make the world a better place. This film is Shankar's debut Telugu film and is billed as a political action thriller, featuring action, drama, and a strong social message. Produced by Dil Raju and Sirish under the banner Sri Venkateswara Creations, the film will have music by Thaman S. With big visuals and a compelling story, Game Changer is one of the more highly awaited films in Telugu, and is a delicious return to the theater for the Telugu people.
7. Thudarum (235.1cr):
Thudarum is a Malayalam crime thriller released on April 25, 2025. Directed by Tharun Moorthy, the film stars Mohanlal as Shanmugham, nicknamed "Benz", a simple taxi driver who has a strong bond with his vintage Ambassador car. When corrupt cops accuse him of drug smuggling and steal his vehicle, the peace of his family life is shattered for the sake of fabricated evidence, forcing him into a tense and emotional journey to regain justice. The film co-stars Shobana as his wife, and the film balances warm domestic scenes in Act One to a thrilling and revenge-driven second half propelled by Mohanlal's restrained yet powerful performance and a chilling villain played by Prakash Varma. Praised for its storytelling, visuals, and emotional weight, Thudarum became Mohanlal’s second ₹100 crores-plus Malayalam hit in 2025.
6. Raid 2 (235.8cr):
Raid, a 2018 Bollywood movie starring Ajay Devgn, will have a sequel titled Raid 2. Directed by Rajkumar Gupta, Raid 2 will follow the character IRS officer Amay Patnaik, known for his strongly confrontational attitude towards corrupt officials. The original film was set during the late 1980s and 90s, and Raid 2 will capture a similar time with new investigations led by government officials involving a politically powerful individual. Drama, confrontation, and a nationalist perspective will be tested again. Ajay Devgn will return to the role of Patnaik, the officer who will throw caution to the wind in order catch a criminal and do what is right. The movie will be produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak, and Krishan Kumar. Raid 2 is set to release in 2025. The sequel which has a much larger story than its predecessor, will hope to have the same success as Raid.
5. Good Bad Ugly (248.1cr):
Good Bad Ugly (2025) is a Tamil language action drama film that stars Ajith Kumar as “Red Dragon” AK, a notorious gangster-turned-father; since there was a long sentence in prison as a way to atone for his last crimes and raise his son. He returns to his family, ready to embrace the future, but fate has other plans—his child gets kidnapped, just when he was thought it was safe to move with his intended upcoming life in Spain. Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, this film is a spectacle full of style, supporting a cavalcade of fan service, high-octane action, bombastic flashbacks, and loaded with cameos from supporting actors, including Trisha, Jackie Shroff, Arjun Das, and Sunil. The film is stylish, has a full visual treat, with a glaring score by GV Prakash Kumar, and has a runtime of around 139 minutes, as a full mass-entertainer written for Ajith fans. While some critics cited the thin plot, built entirely on the worship of the star, viewers embraced the movie's swagger and style build off the tribute-laden screenplay.
4. Housefull 5 (250.6cr):
'Housefull 5,' released on June 6, 2025, is the fifth film in the hit Bollywood comedy franchise. It is directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. It is also said to be India's most expensive comedy to date (₹225 crore budget). The film takes place primarily on a luxury cruise ship and mixes slapstick with a murder-mystery feel. The large reunion cast includes: Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, among others. Uniquely, it has two different versions (5A and 5B) and the second viewing will provide a different experience to witness which killer exists when watching the alternate ending. The film has received mixed to positive reviews on the strength of the comical timing and surprise reveals, and surpassed ₹160 crore in 12 days at the box office.
3. Sankrathiki Vasthunam (258.4cr):
Sankranthiki Vasthunam is a Telugu-language action-comedy film, which was both directed and written by Anil Ravipudi, that stars Venkatesh Daggubati with Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary. Full with examples of festive quirks, the plot follows ex-police officer YD Raju who is called to action to rescue a kidnapped CEO of a multinational corporation. The fiasco unfolds when his wife and ex-girlfriend both become embroiled in the scheme. Sankranthiki Vasthunam was released during Sankranti, on January 14, and was produced by Dil Raju under Sri Venkateswara Creations. The movie was shot by Sameer Reddy, and coproduced and edited by Bheems Ceciroleo. The movie's soundtrack, including a viral "Godari Gattu" track, were helpful to marketing. The run time of the film is approximately 144 minutes and presented slapstick humour blended with masala genres. Sankranthiki Vasthunam, received mixed critical reviews, nominated for the best family entertainer but criticized for the ordinary and predictable plot. The movie received universal audience appreciation and commercially the film became an unprecedented success, grossing an estimated ₹245-300 crore worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film ever released in 2025.
2. L2: Empuraan (268.1cr):
L2: Empuraan is the eagerly awaited sequel to the Malayalam mega blockbuster film Lucifer (2019) directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and written by Murali Gopy. The film stars Mohanlal reprising his role as the mysterious and powerful Stephen Nedumpally who has been unveiled as the international crime lord Khureshi-Ab'Ram. Empuraan will trace how Khureshi got to the top of international crime and function as a an even deeper thesis to his shadowy empire. The film is produced by Aashirvad Cinemas', and Lyca Productions and is expected to have political action and mayhem take places around the world. The sequel promises to be an even bigger spectacle with darker themes, and deeper narratives, and to elevate the Lucifer schema into a political-action franchise thriller. The film is slated to release in 2025 and is expected to be pan-Indian across many language platforms.
1. Chhaava (808.7 cr.):
Chhaava is an upcoming Hindi historical action film for 2025 directed by Laxman Utekar, and it’s based on Shivaji Sawant’s novel based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Shivaji. Vicky Kaushal stars in a furious manner in his role of Sambhaji Maharaj, with Akshaye Khanna (Aurangzeb) and Rashmika Mandanna (Yesubai), with music from A.R. Rahman. The film’s production researched every aspect of 17th century Maratha heritage, reflected in the period-appropriate costumes and sets. The film was released on 14 February and received significant praise from critics, particularly due its climactic action and Kaushal portraying a role of flamboyant intensity, but some critics noted felt it had uneven pacing, and an overwhelming score. The film was a box-office behemoth, unprecedented by an Indian film, grossing over ₹800 crore globally and one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2025. It was released on Netflix in April.
