Year Ender 2025: This year is ending on a surprising note for Bollywood with very few action films getting BO success. Big action films arrived with massive stars, loud trailers and heavy promotions. Yet, many of these films failed to live up to the hype. Box-office numbers dipped after strong openings. Audiences did not return after the first weekend. Trade experts now agree on one thing. In 2025, action alone was not enough to guarantee success.
In this year ender 2025 article, we explain how this shift says a lot about changing viewer taste. People want more than explosions and slow-motion fights. They want stories (like recent film Dhurandhar) that stay with them.
Year Ender 2025: Big Stars, Big Action, Biggest Flops
Several high-profile action films struggled despite strong openings. Hrithik Roshan‘s War 2 is a clear example. The film opened well and created early buzz. But as the weekdays arrived, collections dropped sharply. According to Sacnilk, its first-week gross stood at around Rs 243.8 crore across languages. For a film mounted on such a grand scale, the fall after the opening push raised eyebrows.
Salman Khan’s Sikandar faced a similar fate. Star power brought crowds on day one. But the film could not sustain momentum. It closed with about Rs 110.1 crore net in India and Rs 184.6 crore worldwide. These numbers were far below trade expectations. The sharp midweek dip pointed to weak word of mouth.
Shahid Kapoor’s Deva also failed to make an impact. It earned roughly Rs 33.9 crore net in India. Collections slid quickly in the second week. For a mid-to-big budget action film, the response was underwhelming.
Other titles told the same story. Fateh managed only around Rs 11.1 crore in its opening week. 120 Bahadur, despite being smaller in scale, reached about Rs 17.85 crore net. Even with lower expectations, its reach remained limited. Trade year ender 2025 lists later grouped many of these films among 2025’s biggest disappointments.
Why These Action Films Didn’t Work At The Box Office
The biggest reason was fatigue. Audiences have seen these formulas before. Lone heroes, endless fights and familiar plots no longer excite. When films offered nothing new, viewers chose to skip them.
Weak scripts also hurt these releases. Many films looked grand but felt empty. Long runtimes and thin stories killed repeat value. As a result, word of mouth turned cold within days.
Competition played a role, too. 2025 saw surprise hits from romance and regional cinema. Smaller films with strong emotions and fresh ideas connected better. They pulled audiences away from routine action films.
OTT platforms added to the shift. Viewers now enjoy tight, character-driven stories at home. To bring them back to theatres, films need heart, not just scale.
As we wrap up this year ender 2025 story, let us tell you – Action is no longer Bollywood’s safest bet. Stars and budgets may ensure a big opening. But they cannot sustain a film without strong content. Only films like Chhaava and Dhurandhar with a strong plot may work in future.
