In a year marked by unexpected turns, 2025 has concluded with a remarkable achievement in the Bollywood film industry: the emergence of Dhurandhar as the biggest hit and top earner of the year. This film has not only set records within Bollywood but is also on the brink of becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film ever produced, surpassing even Pushpa 2. With its impressive financial success, Dhurandhar is currently classified as a SUPER BLOCKBUSTER, and there is speculation that it could eventually earn the title of ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER based on its final box office numbers.
As we turn the page on 2025, the year saw a total of eight films classified as hits, alongside fifteen others deemed successful. Among these were four standout blockbusters, with Dhurandhar leading the charge. Interestingly, the film landscape appears to be recovering from the pandemic's impact; while the pre-pandemic era typically flaunted around fifteen hits annually, recent years have seen fluctuating success rates. For instance, 2023 was particularly notable, boasting eleven hits, whereas 2025, while not exceptional, certainly fared better than the disappointing year of 2024.
The film Chhaava has claimed the position of the second-largest hit of the year. Although it had the potential to outshine Dhurandhar, it ultimately fell short of that goal. In Maharashtra, recognized as the state with the largest box office revenue, Chhaava not only emerged as the top film of the year but also found itself in esteemed company, standing alongside legendary titles like Sholay, Hum Aapke Hai Kaun, and Baahubali 2.
Adding to the excitement, two surprise blockbuster films graced the screens: Saiyaara, a musical romance featuring fresh talent, and an animated feature titled Mahavatar Narsimha. Powered by a catchy soundtrack, Saiyaara achieved remarkable box office figures both domestically and internationally, becoming a favorite due to its music. The animated film broke new ground in a genre that has historically struggled in India; Mahavatar Narsimha, produced by a Delhi-based team yet presented by the South Indian company Hombale Films, asserted its identity as a Hindi film, successfully captivating audiences.
Beyond these major successes, seven additional films can be categorized as successful. Two of them, however, could have arguably been classified as hits based on their theatrical performance, but financial recovery posed challenges. Sitaare Zameen Par did not achieve anticipated digital revenues, while Jaat faced issues stemming from its high production costs. Akshay Kumar experienced a mild resurgence this year with three films that managed moderate success. While Housefull 5 showed promise initially, it could not sustain its momentum, whereas Kesari 2 and Jolly LLB 3 maintained steady viewer interest despite not opening strongly. Overall, 2025 proved to be an improvement for Kumar compared to his recent efforts.
However, the year was not without its disappointments. Two films, widely expected to dominate—War 2 and Sikandar—turned out to be significant misses. Other notable flops included Baaghi 4, Tu Meri Main Tera, Skyforce, and Son of Sardaar 2. Particularly, the romantic comedy genre struggled, with several releases underperforming despite promising marketing and soundtracks. Historically, romantic comedies have been a reliable source of hits, making their lackluster performance this year all the more striking.
Here’s how the classifications for Bollywood in 2025 break down:
ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER
SUPER BLOCKBUSTER
Dhurandhar (potential for ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER)
Chhaava
BLOCKBUSTER
Saiyaara
Mahavatar Narsimha
SUPER HIT
HIT
Raid 2
Tere Ishk Mein
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat
Sanam Teri Kasam (re-release)
AVERAGE
Sitaare Zameen Par
Housefull 5
Thamma
Jolly LLB 3
Kesari 2
Jaat
The Taj Story
Among Hindi films dubbed from other languages, Kantara: Chapter 1 stood out as the most successful and profitable, earning the designation of SUPER HIT. Meanwhile, Coolie performed adequately and was categorized as AVERAGE.
Several Hollywood films also made waves at the box office in India, including F1 The Movie, which emerged as a Blockbuster, alongside Avatar: Fire and Ash, Mission: Impossible - Final Reckoning, The Conjuring 4, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Final Destination: Bloodlines, all of which achieved HIT status or better.
For further insights, check out our roundup of the top grossing films in India for 2025, where Dhurandhar leads the pack, followed closely by Kantara and Chhaava.
