Despite being the fifth installment of one of Bollywood’s longest-running comedy franchises, Housefull 5 ends up being more exhausting than entertaining. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, this star-studded cruise comedy tries to set sail with loud laughs, slapstick energy, and a murder mystery twist — but it struggles to stay afloat.
Here’s an honest, spoiler-free Housefull 5 movie review based on the trailer, early audience reactions, and initial critical feedback.

Rating: ⭐⭐(2/5 stars)
Genre: Comedy

Release Date, Director, and Cast

• Cast: Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Chitrangada Singh
• Release Date: June 6, 2025
• Director: Tarun Mansukhani
• Language: Hindi

Plot

Housefull 5 sets sail on a luxurious cruise where billionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal is about to reveal the heir to his ₹69 billion fortune. The twist? His chosen successor is a man named “Jolly”… but not one, not two, three different men show up, all claiming to be the rightful Jolly.

Played by Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan, these three “Jollys” bring their own brand of chaos to the party, turning the yacht into a floating circus of confusion, mistaken identities, and wild antics. As family members, exes, lovers, and rivals collide, the cruise becomes a minefield of misunderstandings.

Just when the absurdity reaches a peak, the unthinkable happens — the billionaire drops dead, and suddenly, the comedy of errors turns into a full-blown murder mystery. Enter two cartoonish cops (played by Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff) whose investigation is just as messy as the cruise itself.

Dual Ending Gimmick

The film introduces an unusual gimmick: it was released in two versions — Housefull 5A and 5B, each with a different climax and different murderer, pushing the already chaotic plot into full absurdist territory.

Despite its intriguing setup and lavish backdrop, the film’s execution relies on over-the-top gags, repetitive slapstick, and forced humor, turning a promising premise into a cringeworthy comedy misfire.

Performances

• Akshay Kumar gives his usual energetic effort, but the material doesn’t give him much to work with. His comic timing feels wasted on weak lines.
• Riteish Deshmukh remains the most natural in the genre, but even he can’t rise above the cringeworthy writing.
• Abhishek Bachchan returns to comedy, but his role lacks depth or fresh humor.
• Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff as bumbling cops offer occasional laughs, though even their meta moments feel forced.

The female leads — Chitrangda Singh, Nargis Fakhri, and Soundarya Sharma — have little to do besides looking glamorous and reacting to the madness.

Direction & Tone

Housefull 5 is directed by Tarun Mansukhani, who tries to bring a fresh twist to the franchise by adding a murder mystery to the usual comedy chaos. But sadly, the idea doesn’t work as well as it should.

The film is loud, flashy, and full of silly jokes — the kind you’ve seen many times before. It tries hard to be funny with crazy situations and overacting, but most of the time, the humor feels outdated and forced.

Instead of smart or clever comedy, the film depends on over-the-top scenes, random confusion, and jokes that don’t land. While it tries to be entertaining, it often ends up being more annoying than fun.

Music & Visuals

Housefull 5 features a lively soundtrack with songs like “Laal Pari,” “Dil-E-Nadaan,” “Qayamat,” and “The Phoogdi Dance.” These tracks aim to add fun and energy to the film, fitting its loud and colorful style.

While the music matches the movie’s upbeat tone, none of the songs stand out as memorable hits. They mostly serve as background entertainment during the chaotic scenes.

Visually, the film impresses with its grand cruise ship setting and exotic locations, adding glamour and scale. But even the rich visuals can’t fully cover up the weak plot and humor.

Housefull 5 Box Office Collection

The Housefull 5 box office collection started strong, earning ₹24.35 crore on its opening day in India — the biggest Day 1 in the franchise so far. On Day 2, boosted by the Eid holiday, collections rose to ₹31 crore, bringing the total to about ₹55.35 crore in just two days. The film is expected to earn around ₹90 crore during its opening weekend. The worldwide gross on Day 1 was ₹39.84 crore. However, with a high budget of ₹240 crore, the Housefull 5 movie review from audiences and critics, along with its earnings, suggests the film is underperforming and is currently considered a flop.

Early Audience Reactions

The internet’s verdict is loud and clear:

• “Cringe-fest from start to finish.”
• “Yet another comedy disaster from Akshay Kumar.”
• “Tired jokes, recycled setups, zero freshness.”

Social media is flooded with memes and sarcastic reactions, with many calling it one of the weakest entries in the franchise.

What Doesn’t Work

• Flat, outdated humor
• Loud but unfunny performances
• Weak writing and direction
• No emotional connection or story depth
• A desperate attempt to keep the franchise alive

What Could Have Worked (But Didn’t)

• The dual-ending gimmick (Housefull 5A & 5B) sounded unique, but early viewers report that it adds confusion, not value.
• The murder mystery angle promised novelty but ended up as a rushed side plot with no real suspense.

Final Verdict

Housefull 5 had the cast, the budget, and the franchise history to deliver a memorable entertainer, but it squanders all of it on lazy writing, tired jokes, and over-the-top absurdity. Even die-hard fans of the series are struggling to find redeeming moments.

In short, this Housefull 5 movie review finds the film to be a loud, glossy misfire that relies on gimmicks rather than good storytelling. If you’re looking for genuine laughs or smart comedy, you might want to skip this cruise altogether.

FAQs

Q1. Is Housefull 5 worth watching in theatres?
A: Only if you’re a fan of mindless comedy and don’t mind repetitive humor. Otherwise, it’s best skipped.

Q2. Is Housefull 5 funny?
A: That depends on your taste. For most viewers, the jokes feel forced and the humor falls flat.

Q3. What’s the unique twist in Housefull 5?
A: The film released with two endings (5A and 5B), each with a different killer, but the idea feels more like a marketing gimmick than a storytelling strength.

Q4. What is the runtime of Housefull 5?
A: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Q5. Is Housefull 5 a hit or a flop?
A: Housefull 5 received mostly negative reviews from critics and audiences alike, with many calling it a disappointment compared to earlier films in the franchise. Its box office performance was underwhelming, making it more of a flop than a hit.