The sequel battle is on—and the early score is one-sided. Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has solidified the lead with an opening of ₹35.5 crore net, as it has begun to shape up into one of the year’s biggest box office battles. In contrast, Akshay Kumar’s Housefull 5 has an estimated opening projection of ₹20 crore net, based on the forward-looking trends of advance booking.
This is a shocker to industry observers, as both are brand names with fan followings who have plenty of mass appeal—and yet the numbers are the numbers! For Housefull 5 to advance, it needs a sizeable leap from these numbers with just three days to the release.
Advance Booking Numbers for Housefull 5 Raise Red Flags
According to advance bookings from national chains (PVR, INOX, Cinepolis) with three days until release:
- Dunki – 62.5K tickets
- Sikandar – 45K tickets
- Fighter – 42.5K tickets
- Adipurush (Hindi) – 36K tickets
- Housefull 5 – 13K tickets
Even with genre and release window changes—which are paramount to its success—the numbers sit below expectations for a tentpole comedy with Akshay Kumar spearheading and backed by Sajid Nadiadwala.
In comparison, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is generating its full house openings because of Kartik Aaryan‘s ascent and a positive buzz.
Even with a star cast of Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, and 16 others, a lot of buzz with Housefull 5 hasn’t resulted in a box office volt.
Here’s what looks off
- Half-baked Trailer Response: The trailer did not land with the usual madcap tone for Housefull.
- Star-Studded Mishmash: Too many roles, not enough minutes; audiences are confused about who does what.
- Two ways to end: The Housefull A/B versions with two different endings aren’t always good; they make it seem gimmicky.
- Leave the Slapstick Home: In the post-pandemic world, audiences have changed their viewing habits; slapstick needs a facelift.
Contrasting with other sequels
Raid 2, Stree 2, and Why Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Worked
Let’s take a snapshot of how other sequel releases in 2025 are faring:
- Raid 2: Good buzz with massy content, and Ajay Devgn’s return should pull in the core audience.
- Stree 2: Good advance sales for a horror-comedy—it’s a strong genre.
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3: Kartik Aaryan’s cult popularity, good music, and nostalgia from earlier films worked.
Compared to this, Housefull 5 seems a little out of sync with audience viewing preferences, and it looks as though their advance public relations campaign has stuck a gear shift.
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Box Office Worldwide Verdict
There are still three days to go until the release date for Housefull 5, and yet it has already sold only 13K tickets in the major chains. So it is getting pretty late for that to make up ground.
On the other hand, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is striding towards a potential ₹100 Cr+ first weekend.
Barring a late surge from Akshay Kumar’s film, it could become another squandered experience for a franchise that once dominated the comedy space.
In summary, sequels can seemingly be a safe bet — just as long as they can be reinvented.
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