Housefull 5’s dual endings spark confusion: Taran Adarsh questions box office impact

Housefull 5, directed by Tarun Mansukhani and starring Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan, premiered on June 6, 2025, with a unique dual ending format that has left audiences puzzled.

The film, which also features Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, and Soundarya Sharma, quickly entered the Rs 100 crore club within four days and earned a net of ₹127 crore in its first week, making it the third highest grossing Hindi film of the year.

Despite this commercial success, trade analyst Taran Adarsh expressed concerns about the dual endings, stating, "I don't think the dual ending formula has worked because people tend to get confused at times." He added, "The very essence of the film is to create a sense of confusion for the audience in the theatre, and choosing between Climax A or B simply added to that."

The film's production was notably expensive, with a reported budget of ₹240 crore, including lavish shoots aboard a luxury cruise, making it the most expensive comedy film made in India.

Box office data shows a weekday dip with a Hindi occupancy of 12.17% on June 12, following a strong weekend. Industry insiders suggest the film needs to cross the ₹130 crore net mark domestically or surpass ₹300 crore worldwide to be considered a clean hit.

Featuring a star-studded cast of 34 actors including Sanjay Dutt, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Jackie Shroff, Housefull 5's performance remains under close scrutiny as the impact of its unconventional dual endings on audience reception and box office returns continues to be debated.

Housefull 5, starring Akshay Kumar and released June 6, 2025, features dual endings that have sparked audience confusion. Despite mixed reviews, it earned ₹127 crore net in its first week, becoming the third highest grossing Hindi film of the year. Taran Adarsh questions the impact of the dual endings on box office performance.