Housefull 5 is the fifth installment in Bollywood’s hit slapstick comedy franchise, marking a fresh blend of humor and suspense onboard a cruise. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the movie released worldwide on June 6, 2025.
💵 Budget & Box Office
- Budget: At ₹240 crore, Housefull 5 is the most expensive comedy ever made in India.
- Box Office (Opening): It earned approximately ₹22–24.35 crore net on its opening day — one of the highest openings for a Bollywood film in 2025.
- Domestic Hit Threshold: Trade analysts estimate it needs ₹220–250 crore nett in India to be considered a hit — accounts for its theatrical rights valued around ₹90 crore.
⭐ Genre & Unique Structure
This film uniquely merges slapstick comedy with a murder mystery set on a luxury cruise. It introduces a dual-climax format: each version—Housefull 5A and 5B—reveals a different killer, offering fresh twists per screening.
👥 Star Cast Names
The ensemble includes veterans and fan favourites:
- Akshay Kumar as Julius (Jolly 3)
- Riteish Deshmukh as Jalabuddin (Jolly 1)
- Abhishek Bachchan as Jalbhushan (Jolly 2)
- Jacqueline Fernandez as Sasikala
- Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangada Singh, Sonam Bajwa
- Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff portray police officers Bhidu and Baba, while Nana Patekar plays Superintendent Dhagdu Hulgund.
- Supporting cast includes Fardeen Khan, Chunky Panday, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Dino Morea, Soundarya Sharma, and Nikitin Dheer.
🎥 OTT Platform Name & Release Date
- Streaming Platform: Housefull 5 has secured its digital home on Amazon Prime Video. Prime’s official social media confirmed that the film will be available on their platform after its theatrical run.
- Estimated OTT Premiere: Following industry norms and based on early reports, the film is expected to debut on Prime between late July and early August 2025, i.e., approximately 6 to 8 weeks after its June 6 theatrical release.
Plot Overview
Passengers aboard a lavish cruise voyage are thrown into chaos when billionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal is murdered. Comedic confusion erupts as imposters vying for his inheritance become suspects. The storyline revolves around Julius and friends business of humor meets suspense. Sanjay Dutt’s Bhidu and Jackie Shroff’s Baba lead the investigation, with multiple suspects and twists ensuring a roller-coaster whodunit with traditional Housefull-style gags.
🎞 Runtime & Formats
- Runtime: 165 minutes (approx. 2 hours 45 minutes), identical for both versions.
- CBFC Rating: U/A certified, with minor cuts for certain dialogues.
🎵 Music
Julius Packiam composed the background score. Songs were produced by a lineup including Yo Yo Honey Singh, Tanishk Bagchi, White Noise Collectives, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Sajid–Wajid, and Kratex. The soundtrack spans four main singles and a 15-minute mixtape .
🧠 Critic Reviews & Audience Response
Mixed-to-Negative Reviews: Critics applauded the fresh dual‑ending approach and performances of Akshay and Riteish but criticized its recycled jokes and thin screenplay.
- Hindustan Times: 3/5 stars — “relies too heavily on Akshay’s charm…”
- Firstpost & TOI: Rated ~2.5/5 — described the humor as “mindless” and wasteful of the large cast .
- NDTV & The Indian Express: Scored 1.5 to 1/5 for excessive crude humour .
Audience Verdict: Family audiences drawn to slapstick comedy and nostalgic recurring characters might enjoy the film. Fans of the franchise will appreciate the humor, even if critics find it over-the-top.
Overall, Housefull 5 is a grand, chaotic mash-up—part slapstick, part murder mystery—with Bollywood’s hallmark ensemble flair. Its dual ending gimmick is innovative, however, its reliance on predictable gags and diluted story depth weakens critical acclaim. Box office returns and opening numbers show strong potential, especially given a massive ₹240 crore investment . It remains a festive, crowd-pleasing entertainer rather than a refined cinematic masterpiece.