The first half of 2024 has brought varied results for the Bollywood Movies Hindi Film Industry. While several mid-sized films have gradually attracted audiences back to theaters, the calendar lacked major big-budget blockbusters in the year’s first half. In comparison to the Rs 1450 crore earned in the first half of 2023, the industry garnered Rs 1081 crore in 2024, marking a 25 percent decline from the previous year.
Additionally, the first half of 2024 saw a lack of major star-driven releases, contributing to the overall decline in box office performance. Unlike the previous year, which was buoyed by the massive success of “Pathaan,” the current year has yet to witness a similar blockbuster.
Bollywood Movies
Despite the absence of high-profile films, some mid-sized projects managed to perform decently, gradually bringing audiences back to theaters. However, these successes were not enough to offset the substantial drop in overall earnings.
The industry’s struggle was further highlighted by the poor reception of “Merry Christmas.” The film, which featured a notable cast and was helmed by acclaimed director Sriram Raghavan, failed to resonate with audiences, resulting in a box office collection of just Rs 15 crore. This underperformance set a challenging tone for the year’s early months.
Looking ahead, the industry hopes to rebound in the second half of 2024 with several anticipated releases. Producers and distributors are banking on a lineup of films featuring major stars and promising storylines to revitalize the box office and close the year on a higher note. The performance of these upcoming releases will be crucial in determining whether the industry can recover from the early setbacks and achieve a stronger financial outcome by the end of the year.
Table of Contents
- Bollywood Movies for the year 2024
- Other Movies on the List
- Movies that disappointed the Audience this year
Bollywood Movies for the year 2024
Following the highly anticipated Republic Day release, Siddharth Anand’s directorial venture “Fighter,” starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, hit the screens. The film raked in Rs 201.50 crore in India and continues to garner increasing admiration. It is poised to retain its place among the top 5 highest-grossing films of 2024.
Despite being the biggest hit of the year, the film’s performance fell short of expectations given its star-studded cast and the collaboration of Siddharth Anand with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. As anticipated at the beginning of the year, “Fighter’s” overall box office performance is gaining more recognition as time goes on.
“Fighter” was highly anticipated due to the successful track records of the director and leading actors. The duo of Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone with Siddharth Anand’s direction set the expectations for the film high. Although it achieved impressive box office numbers, some industry insiders and fans expected it to perform even better. The film’s substantial earnings, however, reflect its broad appeal and the positive reception from audiences.
As the year progresses, “Fighter” is finding renewed respect and appreciation, solidifying its status as a major success in Indian cinema. The movie’s ability to maintain its position among the top grossers showcases its enduring popularity and the lasting impact it has made on audiences.
Other Movies on the List
The next on the list was Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon-led “Teri Baataon Mein Aise Uljha Jiya,” which became a hit with lifetime earnings of Rs 84 crore, securing the #2 positon.
The #3 movie is Yami Gautam’s “Article 370,” which grossed Rs 77 crore across India. Moving on, the Aamir Khan-produced, Kiran Rao-directed “Laapataa Ladies” had a slow start but managed a 12-week plus theatrical run, ultimately grossing Rs 20 crore. Despite its average overall gross, it showed the trending characteristics of a hit film, contrary to early predictions of a lifetime gross below Rs 7 crore.
Another biggest hit so far is “Shaitaan,” led by Ajay Devgn and also starring R Madhavan and Jyothika. This psychological thriller amassed Rs 145 crore at the domestic box office, yielding the highest return on investment for its stakeholders.
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Additionally, the trio of Kareena Kapoor, Tabu, and Kriti Sanon found success with “Crew,” which achieved lifetime collections of Rs 82 crore.
The Excel Entertainment’s movie “Madgaon Express” garnered appreciation from audience in certain areas, making it a modest success.
The summer period saw a dearth of releases due to the IPL and elections, but exhibitors found some relief with the release of Rajkummar Rao’s “Srikanth,” which grossed Rs 48 crore in India, achieving a Semi Hit status. Another Rajkummar Rao film, “Mr and Mrs Mahi,” featuring Janhvi Kapoor, released a few weeks later and turned out to be an average performer, with lifetime earnings of Rs 36 crore.
The first half of the year concluded with the release of “Kalki 2898 AD.” The Hindi dubbed version of this film is on track to earn around Rs 250 crore, making it a super hit. Contrary to popular belief, the first half of 2024 wasn’t as disappointing as it seemed. It brought some optimism for small-scale and mid-sized films, and the outlook for the rest of the year is positive. In total, the first half of 2024 saw 9 successful films, including 4 clear hits.
Movies that disappointed the Audience this year
On the other hand, the Sidharth Malhotra and Disha Patani-led “Yodha” were highly unsuccessful.
The Eid releases, “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” and “Maidaan,” have emerged as two of the biggest disappointments in recent times. “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” earned Rs 59 crore, while “Maidaan” brought in Rs 51 crore, both being labeled as disasters at the box office.
While, Kabir Khan’s “Chandu Champion” starring Kartik Aaryan, was a flop with a lifetime gross of around Rs 60 crore. While it found some appreciation in urban areas, it wasn’t enough to make it a success.
More About Box Office 2024 of Bollywood Movies
The first half of 2024 has been a mixed bag for the film industry. While some high-profile releases fell short of expectations, others, especially in the small to mid-sized segment, provided a glimmer of hope.
The unexpected hits and steady performers have shown that good content can still draw audiences to the theaters. As we move into the second half of the year, there is cautious optimism that the industry will see more successes and a continued recovery. With 9 successful films, including 4 clear hits, the industry has laid a promising foundation for the rest of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions on Bollywood Movies
Q: Which films were the biggest hits in the first half of 2024?
A: The biggest hits were “Shaitaan” with Rs 145 crore, “Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya” with Rs 84 crore, “Article 370” with Rs 77 crore, and “Munjya” (expected) with Rs 101 crore.
Q: Which genres or types of films performed unexpectedly well?
A: Horror comedy genre saw unexpected success with “Munjya” grossing around Rs 101 crore, proving that strong content can attract audiences irrespective of star power.
Q: How did smaller and mid-sized films fare compared to big-budget releases?
A: Smaller and mid-sized films like “Crew,” “Madgaon Express,” and “Srikanth” managed to perform decently, with some achieving semi-hit status, indicating that niche audiences are still keen on supporting quality content.