Housefull 5 vs Thug Life: Akshay Kumar’s Comedy Crushes Box Office, Kamal Haasan’s Drama Drowns
Housefull 5 vs Thug Life: Akshay Kumar’s Comedy Crushes Box Office, Kamal Haasan’s Drama Drowns. The box office clash between Housefull 5 and Thug Life, released on June 6 and June 5, 2025, respectively, has turned into a one-sided spectacle. Akshay Kumar’s Housefull 5, the fifth installment of the iconic comedy franchise, has stormed the Indian box office, smashing records and leaving Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life gasping for air.
With a staggering ₹101 crore nett collection in just four days, Housefull 5 has cemented its dominance, while Thug Life limps along with a mere ₹40.95 crore nett in six days, marking it as one of 2025’s biggest flops. This Housefull 5 vs Thug Life battle highlights Akshay Kumar’s unyielding star power and exposes the cracks in Thug Life’s ambitious gangster drama.
Housefull 5’s Meteoric Rise: A Comedy Juggernaut
Housefull 5, directed by Tarun Mansukhani, opened with a thunderous ₹24 crore nett on its first day, outpacing the two-day collection of Thug Life (₹22.65 crore). Featuring a massive ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Jacqueline Fernandez, the film’s slapstick humor and family-friendly appeal resonated across Hindi-speaking markets. By day three, it crossed ₹63.14 crore nett, surpassing its predecessor Housefull 4’s opening day (₹19.08 crore) and Akshay’s 2025 release Kesari 2 (₹7.75 crore). On Monday, it minted ₹13.76 crore, entering the ₹100 crore club in record time for a comedy film.
The film’s innovative release with two alternate climaxes—Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B—sparked curiosity, boosting repeat viewings. Its 5,000+ screen count, the widest for any Indian comedy, and strong overseas performance (₹36.5 crore in three days) have positioned it as Akshay Kumar’s biggest international opener. Housefull 5 vs Thug LifeTrade analyst Taran Adarsh hailed its “super-strong hold” on Monday, predicting it could become the highest-grossing Housefull film. With 52.32% night occupancy on day two and discounted ticket pricing on Tuesdays, Housefull 5 is poised to dominate the Eid weekend and beyond.
Thug Life’s Tragic Fall: A High-Budget Disaster
In stark contrast, Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and headlined by Kamal Haasan, has crumbled under its ₹200 crore budget. Despite high expectations from the Haasan-Ratnam reunion after 38 years, the gangster drama opened to a modest ₹15.5 crore nett, with ₹13.35 crore from Tamil markets. Day two saw a 50% drop to ₹7.15 crore, and by Monday, it plummeted to a dismal ₹3.11 crore, the lowest single-day collection. Its five-day total stands at ₹40.15 crore nett, with a global gross of ₹85 crore, far below breakeven.
Thug Life’s woes stem from mixed reviews criticizing its slow pacing and AR Rahman’s lackluster score. The Tamil version showed promise with 49.62% night occupancy on day three, but Hindi and Telugu versions flopped, earning just ₹25 lakh and ₹53 lakh on day one, respectively. Housefull 5 vs Thug Life: A controversy over Kamal Haasan’s remarks on Kannada’s origins led to a Karnataka ban, further denting collections. Reports suggest an early OTT release on Netflix after just four weeks, signaling a premature end to its theatrical run. This marks Haasan’s second consecutive flop after Indian 2, a stark contrast to his 2022 hit Vikram.
Akshay Kumar’s Box Office Reign
Akshay Kumar’s Housefull 5 has not only crushed Thug Life but also outshone his 2025 releases Sky Force (₹12.25 crore opening) and Kesari 2. Its ₹79 crore nett opening weekend is Akshay’s career-best, surpassing Sooryavanshi and Mission Mangal. The film’s mass appeal in tier-2 cities and national chains has driven its success, proving Akshay’s comedy prowess remains unmatched. Meanwhile, Thug Life’s niche gangster theme and lack of pan-India appeal have left it trailing.
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The Verdict: Comedy Triumphs Over Drama
The Housefull 5 vs Thug Life clash underscores the power of genre and star appeal. Housefull 5’s record-breaking run, fueled by Akshay Kumar’s charisma and a chaotic yet crowd-pleasing narrative, has obliterated Thug Life’s hopes. While Housefull 5 races toward ₹150 crore domestically, Thug Life sinks without a trace, unlikely to hit ₹100 crore worldwide. This box office bloodbath proves that in 2025, laughter reigns supreme over gritty drama.
