Housefull 5: A Chaotic Comedy with Dual Endings and Divided Reactions

Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan lead a laughter-laced mystery on a cruise, but not all aboard are impressed.

Sajid Nadiadwala’s Housefull 5 sails into cinemas on June 6 with a promise of riotous comedy, royal curses, and a murder mystery, wrapped in a cruise ship setting and backed by a massive ₹225 crore budget. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film boasts an ensemble cast of 19 stars, including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, and Chunky Pandey.

#Housefull5 “B” Review: ⭐⭐/5 — FLOP

A chaotic mess of forced comedy, lazy writing & zero thrill. You can predict the flat climax.
The killer in the climax won’t surprise you.#SanjayDutt & #JackieShroff are wasted. Painful to sit through.#Housefull5Review #AkshayKumar pic.twitter.com/cvkvw4vRWy

— BFilmy Official (@BFilmyOfficial_) June 5, 2025

But has the fifth installment of this popular franchise delivered what it promised?

The first review is out and it’s less than glowing. The film has been given 2.5 stars, with critics calling it “a chaotic mess of forced comedy, lazy writing, and zero thrill.” Despite high expectations and star power, the film reportedly suffers from predictable plot twists, over-the-top gags, and underutilized talents like Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff.

Plot Snapshot:

Set aboard a luxury cruise, the story begins with a grand announcement by Nana Patekar’s character Ranjit, he’s leaving behind a £69 billion fortune for someone named Jolly. The twist? Three passengers claim to be the real Jolly. What starts as comic confusion quickly spirals into chaos when Ranjit is found dead, and the cruise transforms into a full-blown crime scene.

Dual Endings – A Bold Experiment:

In a move rarely seen in Indian cinema, Housefull 5 will be released in two versions: Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B each with a different ending. Inspired by the 1985 Hollywood film Clue, this quirky experiment allows audiences to choose their version of the climax, but will this novelty be enough to save the film from criticism?

Verdict:

If you’re searching for logic or subtlety, Housefull 5 may leave you frustrated. However, if you’re in the mood for mindless fun, flashy visuals, nostalgia, and celebrity cameos galore, this high-budget cruise might just keep you entertained, at least until the ship docks.

Whether 5A or 5B, the real mystery may be how audiences will respond to Bollywood’s most extravagant comedy yet.