As 2024 draws to a close, the Hindi film industry faces a sobering reality: box office collections remain approximately 25% lower than the previous year. The majority of Bollywood releases underperformed this year, with only a handful making a significant impact at the ticket counters. The exhibition sector struggled for survival due to a steady supply of lackluster films and ill-planned release dates. It was a terrible year, and it would have been even worse if there hadn’t been some franchise films.
Sequel movies dominated the box office this year, underscoring the audience's preference for familiar narratives. The biggest blockbusters of 2024 — Pushpa 2: The Rule (715.75 cr), Stree 2 (627.02 cr), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (278.42 cr), and Singham Again (268.35 cr) — were all extensions of established franchises. Four out of the top five Hindi grossers were sequels, with Kalki 2898 AD standing out as the only original concept slipping into the top ranks. These four sequels collectively accounted for more than 50% of the year’s total Hindi box office earnings.
It's not that audiences didn't go to cinemas for original stories. Whenever high-quality movies were offered, audiences responded enthusiastically, and the success of movies such as Fighter, Shaitaan, Munjya, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, Crew, Article 370, and Lapataa Ladies are excellent examples of that. It's just that Hindi filmmakers have been consistently failing to deliver the mass entertainers that the core Hindi-speaking audiences want from them. The unparalleled box office success of Pushpa 2, which has earned over 700 crore to date and is currently vying for the historic 800 crore milestone in its Hindi-dubbed version alone, is proof that a well-made mass picture has limitless potential in the Hindi-speaking heartland.
Why did sequels work at the box office?
As the Bollywood industry continued to produce one bad film after another, audiences gravitated toward stories rooted in familiar universes. The inherent advantage of franchise films lies in their pre-existing fanbase, enabling filmmakers to build anticipation through sequels and spin-offs rather than relying on fresh concepts. Because viewers are already familiar with the characters and plots, franchise films have an advantage when it comes to creating awareness. Furthermore, it minimizes the risks involved with novel, untested narratives, making it a safer investment for actors, producers, and directors.
It's probably this reason Bollywood has started churning out more sequels than ever. The resounding success of sequels in 2024 has triggered an industry-wide sequel boom. Result: More than 30 IP movies are in various stages of development right now, with over a dozen of them slated for release only next year.
Sequel Movies Slated for 2025 Release:
2025 will be packed with sequel movies, and leading the wave are Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, each anchoring three major franchise releases. Akshay has Jolly LLB 3, Housefull 5, and Welcome to the Jungle, while Ajay will feature in back-to-back sequels of Raid, De De Pyaar De, and Son of Sardar. Hrithik Roshan is set to return as Major Kabir Dhaliwal again with Yash Raj Films’ most-awaited War 2, slated for release on the Independence Day weekend. Tiger Shroff is also coming back with the fourth installment of the Baaghi franchise, while Kamal Haasan will return once again to reprise his iconic role in Shankar’s Indian 3.
Several spiritual sequels are also in the pipeline. Aamir Khan’s Sitare Zameen Par draws thematic parallels with his 2008 classic, Taare Zameen Par. Likewise, Aanand L. Rai’s Tere Ishq Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, is set within the same universe as Raanjhanaa. Anurag Basu’s much-delayed Metro…In Dino is positioned as a thematic successor to his 2007 anthology Life in a Metro. Kantara’s prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, Dhadak 2, and Masti 4 are also slated for release next year. Furthermore, Alia Bhatt and Sharvari's Alpha and Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna's Thama are parts of expansive cinematic universes of YRF’s star-studded Spy Universe and Dinesh Vijan’s horror-comedy universe, respectively.
The global trend towards sequels isn't limited to Bollywood; Hollywood is also set to release several high-profile franchise films in 2025. Tom Cruise's eighth and final Mission Impossible movie releases on May 23, while James Cameron’s Avatar 3 comes out December 19. Other notable Hollywood franchise movies slated for this year include Captain America: Brave New World (February 14), Karate Kids: Legends (May 30), Jurassic World: Rebirth (July 2), Superman (July 11), The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25), The Conjuring 4 (September 5), and Now You See Me 3 (November 14).
More sequels in the work for 2026 and beyond
The franchise and sequel trend is only poised to grow further, with at least 20 such projects already earmarked for 2026 and beyond. Ranbir Kapoor has the biggest and most exciting lineup with Ramayana Part 1 and 2, Dhoom 4, and Animal 2 in the coming years. Sunny Deol is coming back with Border 2, slated for release on the Republic Day weekend 2026. Kartik Aaryan will headline Aashiqui 3, Pati Patni Aur Woh 2, and a sequel to Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Shahid Kapoor is set to star in Cocktail 2 alongside Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna, while Varun Dhawan leads No Entry 2, Border 2 and Bhediya 2. Hrithik Roshan will reprise his role as the beloved superhero in Krrish 4, and Ajay Devgn will reunite with Rohit Shetty and Indra Kumar for Golmaal 5 and Dhamaal 4, respectively. Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan 2 and Ranveer Singh’s Don 3 are also in development. Kantara’s prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, Dhadak 2, Shiddat 2 and Masti 4 are also slated for release next year. There are many more, but let there be a little more concrete development before adding them here.
