Biggest box office disasters of 2025

Biggest Box office disasters

While 2025 will be remembered as a landmark year for Bollywood’s box office highs, it was also a sobering reminder that big names and inflated budgets no longer guarantee success. Films like Chhaava, Saiyaara, Housefull 5 and Kantara: Chapter 1 emerged as clear winners, while Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continues to dominate ticket counters. Yet, running parallel to these successes was a long list of ambitious projects that failed to connect with audiences, resulting in massive financial losses. Here’s a closer look at the biggest Bollywood box office disasters of 2025.

Sikandar

One of the most shocking failures of the year was Sikandar, starring Salman Khan. Directed by AR Murugadoss, the film was mounted on a lavish budget of approximately Rs 200 crore and was positioned as a mass entertainer. However, poor reviews, and audience fatigue with formulaic storytelling led to its swift downfall. The film managed a worldwide collection of Rs 182.7 crore, with a domestic nett of Rs 108.7 crore, far below the breakeven point.

Son of Sardaar 2

Despite boasting an extensive ensemble cast led by Ajay Devgn, Son of Sardaar 2 failed to replicate the charm or success of the original. Featuring actors such as Chunky Panday, Ravi Kishan, Kubbra Sait, Deepak Dobriyal, Sanjay Mishra, and Sanjay Mishra, the sequel was expected to ride on nostalgia and humour. Instead, it struggled with a weak script and inconsistent comedy. Made on a budget of Rs 100 crore, the film collected just Rs 44.9 crore nett in India and Rs 65.8 crore worldwide, making it one of the most disappointing sequels of the year.

Baaghi 4

Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi franchise had once been a reliable action brand, but Baaghi 4 proved that even high-octane stunts have a shelf life. Despite Tiger’s athletic action sequences and a fresh pairing with Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, the film failed to generate sustained audience interest. The actioner reportedly grossed around Rs 77.67 crore worldwide, with a domestic nett collection of Rs 53.38 crore.

War 2

Ironically, one of the highest-grossing films of 2025 also makes this list. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, War 2 earned an impressive Rs 360–400 crore worldwide. However, the film’s enormous production cost, reportedly close to Rs 400 crore, meant that even these massive numbers weren’t enough to recover expenses. The film’s underperformance relative to its scale highlighted the growing risk associated with ballooning budgets in Bollywood’s action genre.

Emergency

Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency was one of the year’s most discussed films, but not for the right reasons. Directed, produced, and headlined by Kangana herself, the historical biographical drama explored the controversial 1975–77 Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Despite its political relevance, the film struggled to attract audiences. Made on a reported budget of Rs 50 crore, Emergency earned just Rs 22.5 crore worldwide, with a nett collection of Rs 17 crore, marking it as one of the most severe financial failures of 2025.

Several other mid-budget and niche films also failed to find theatrical traction this year. Titles like Dhadak 2, Deva, The Bengal Files, Azaad, Superboys of Malegaon, Maalik and Maa underperformed significantly, adding to the growing list of box office disappointments.