As Bollywood crosses the halfway mark in 2025, the overseas box office offers a compelling narrative of how Indian cinema continues to find resonance far beyond domestic borders. Leading the charge is Vicky Kaushal’s historical epic Chhaava, which has asserted its dominance with a powerful overseas haul, while Sikandar, starring Salman Khan, has turned heads with its strong global showing despite mixed reviews at home. What emerges from the Top 10 list is not just star power, but a shifting landscape where content, nostalgia, and mass appeal are being received differently across international markets.

Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava leads the overseas box office with a formidable USD 10.25 million, cementing its place not just as a domestic giant but as a worldwide performer. The film’s themes of legacy, sacrifice, and cultural pride have clearly struck a chord with the Indian diaspora, particularly in North America, the Middle East, and the UK. Compared to the rest of the films on the list, Chhaava stands almost 62% ahead of the second-ranked film, underlining the global appetite for sweeping period dramas when executed with scale and heart.

Salman Khan’s Sikandar takes the second spot with USD 6.316 million, a performance that underscores Salman’s enduring popularity overseas, even when the film's domestic collection wasn't at its peak. What worked in its favour was the wide release strategy across Gulf countries and Canada, where Salman continues to enjoy a massive fan base. While not a blockbuster by his own towering standards, Sikandar still delivered one of the year’s most bankable international runs. 

Housefull 5, the latest chapter in the hit comedy franchise, claims the third position with USD 5.45 million. The film’s overseas numbers indicate that its slapstick humour and ensemble appeal continue to travel well, especially in the UK and Australia where the franchise has always enjoyed loyal followings. While the film couldn’t match the franchise’s previous instalment in domestic numbers, it outpaced several action films overseas, proving that big-screen comedy still has its place when nostalgia meets accessibility.

Close behind is Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which grossed USD 5.15 million. The film, rooted in emotional storytelling and family values, saw a strong run in North America and New Zealand. Though it narrowly missed surpassing Housefull 5, it performed exceptionally well for a non-franchise film and showcased Aamir’s global draw with audiences that favour substance over spectacle.

Kesari Chapter 2, Akshay Kumar’s sequel to the 2019 war drama, pulled in USD 3.90 million overseas. Though it didn’t scale the highs of Kesari, which had performed better in overseas markets, the sequel still proved Akshay’s patriotic narratives have consistent pull abroad, particularly in regions with large Sikh populations like Canada and the UK.

Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 follows with USD 3.40 million. Unlike Raid, which had a relatively modest overseas run, the sequel benefited from Devgn’s growing credibility in intense, realistic dramas. While not a top-tier overseas performer, it found its audience, especially in UAE and Singapore.

Top 6 highest overseas grossers of 2025 at a glance:

Chhaava - USD 10.25 mil.

Sikandar - USD 6.316 mil.

Housefull 5 - USD 5.45 mil.

Sitaare Zameen Par - USD 5.15 mil.

Kesari Chapter 2 - USD 3.90 mil.

Raid 2 - USD 3.40 mil.

The Anurag Basu-directed Metro… In Dino has taken a decent start at the box office in India. Riding on a solid ensemble cast of Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Saswata Chatterjee, the film has collected Rs. 4 crores on its first day, in par the pre-release expectations.

The film has done the best business in the urban markets, with national chains contributing 60 percent to the total. The early reports for Metro In Dino are good in the target audience, and the hope is on the film to show big jumps on Saturday and Sunday based on support of the cinema going audiences in urban markets.

A weekend of Rs. 20 crores would put the film in a good spot, and the business needs to see a jump of at-least 75 percent on Saturday for that to happen.

Six months into 2025, the global box office has witnessed a mixed bag of expectations met and surprises sprung, particularly when it comes to Hollywood releases in India. With franchise fatigue looming over several big-budget offerings, it’s Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning that has emerged as the clear frontrunner, while the unexpected success of Final Destination: Bloodlines has taken many by surprise. From spy thrillers and horror revivals to animated nostalgia and Marvel’s wavering phase, the first half of the year has painted a compelling, if slightly muted, picture of the theatrical landscape.

Leading the pack is Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which grossed Rs. 110.21 crore at the Indian box office. While that figure is lower than its predecessor Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which earned Rs. 120.42 crore in 2023, the decline of 8.5% is relatively moderate. Given that the latest instalment was marketed as the franchise's swansong and featured some of the most elaborate stunt sequences yet, expectations were sky-high. Yet, despite positive word of mouth and Cruise's ever reliable fanbase, the numbers suggest a slight fatigue setting in, possibly due to the long wait between parts and a saturated action market.

If Mission Impossible was the expected hit, Final Destination: Bloodlines was the dark horse. The horror franchise, revived after more than a decade, shocked trade analysts by pulling in Rs. 62.12 crore in India, outperforming every one of its predecessors. In fact, compared to Final Destination 5 which earned approximately Rs. 28 crore during its 2011 run in India, Bloodlines has recorded a 121.8% jump in earnings. The film’s fresh take on the death-cheating formula, combined with smart marketing and a wave of nostalgia for early 2000s horror, clearly struck a chord with Gen Z and millennial audiences.

At a distant third, How To Train Your Dragon returned to screens with a live action instalment that banked heavily on goodwill from its beloved animated predecessors. However, with Rs. 20.57 crore at the Indian box office, the latest outing fell far short of How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which had earned Rs. 45.30 crore in 2019. That’s a 54.6% drop in collections, indicating that while the franchise retains emotional resonance, the theatrical appetite for animation seems to have cooled post-pandemic in the Indian market.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, once the undisputed champion of the Indian box office, finds itself on shakier ground this year. Thunderbolts, despite its ensemble cast and edgy premise, brought in only Rs. 19 crore — a figure that pales in comparison to earlier non-Avengers outings like Black Widow (Rs. 39.25 crore). That marks a 51.6% decline, suggesting that Marvel’s lesser-known team-ups may no longer hold the sway they once did without marquee characters or connected storytelling hooks.

Similarly, Captain America: Brave New World, headlined by Anthony Mackie in his first solo outing as the new Cap, earned Rs. 18.45 crore — making it the fifth highest Hollywood grosser of the year in India so far. In comparison, Captain America: Civil War had earned ₹59.05 crore in 2016, marking a stark 68.7% drop. Despite Marvel's attempt to transition to a new era of heroes, it’s evident that audiences are yet to fully embrace the post-Endgame universe, especially when the stakes or star appeal aren’t as compelling.

In summary, while Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning has managed to assert dominance despite a dip, it is Final Destination: Bloodlines that has arguably stolen the spotlight with its unexpected box office resurgence. The rest of the top five reflects a shift in audience tastes and the challenges franchises face in sustaining interest beyond a certain point. As the industry looks to the next wave of releases the second half of 2025 will determine whether Hollywood can regain its blockbuster stride in Indian cinemas.

Top 5 Highest Grossers of 2025 so far:

Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning - Rs. 110.21 cr.

Final Destination Bloodlines- Rs. 62.12 cr.

How To Train Your Dragon - Rs. 20.57 cr.

Thunderbolts* - Rs. 19 cr.

Captain America: Brave New World - Rs. 18.45 cr.

Back in 2013, Aamir Khan — known not only for his stellar performances but also his sharp industry insights — introduced a new way of measuring a film’s true success at the box office. While promoting Dhoom 3, the actor explained that a film’s weekend-to-lifetime multiple offered a more accurate reflection of its content strength than just its opening numbers. According to Aamir: “If a film does Rs. 40 crore over the weekend and ends at Rs. 202 crore, that means the multiple is around 5. That shows people are returning to theatres. But if a film does Rs. 100 crore in three days and wraps up at Rs. 200 crore, then it hasn't sustained.”

In simpler terms, the higher the Weekend to Lifetime Multiple, the better the film’s content, word-of-mouth, and repeat value. As the first half of 2025 wraps up, we look at six films from the ₹100 crore club that stand out according to this metric — and offer a new lens on what truly worked at the box office. 

Chhaava: 4.94 Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava emerges as the undisputed content king of the year. Despite opening to a strong weekend, the film’s final box office tally soared nearly 5 times its opening weekend numbers. This impressive multiple speaks volumes about the historical drama’s organic growth, fuelled by audience appreciation, positive reviews, and repeat viewership. Chhaava wasn’t just an event film; it became a word-of-mouth phenomenon, gaining traction week-on-week and solidifying its place among modern box office classics. 

Kesari Chapter 2: 3.76 Akshay Kumar’s sequel to his 2019 hit Kesari quietly made a mark with solid legs at the box office. While the opening weekend was modest compared to his previous war films, Kesari Chapter 2 multiplied its business effectively. The film’s patriotic theme and appeal to Sikh audiences globally likely contributed to its extended run, especially in regions like Canada and the UK. 

Bhool Chuk Maaf: 2.58 This mid-budget relationship drama may not have made explosive headlines with its weekend collection, but with a respectable 2.58 multiple, it proved to be a strong word-of-mouth performer. The film quietly stayed in the conversation due to its emotional depth and relatability, with viewers trickling in through the weeks. It may not have had blockbuster status, but according to Aamir’s metric, it was a film that resonated. 

Raid 2: 2.41 Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2, a sequel to the hit 2018 original, had a robust opening thanks to its genre and returning fanbase. However, the multiple of 2.41 suggests a relatively front-loaded performance. While the film did decent business, it didn’t quite generate the level of repeat viewing that would have pushed its multiple higher. Still, the numbers indicate that Raid 2 held its own, especially among fans of intense, realistic dramas. 

Sitaare Zameen Par: 2.26 Aamir Khan’s own release this year finds itself at the lower end of his own measuring stick. While Sitaare Zameen Par garnered attention for its emotional core and thoughtful storytelling, its multiple of 2.26 indicates that the film struggled to convert initial interest into sustained footfalls. This could be attributed to competition, a non-festive release window, or perhaps the high expectations attached to the brand of Taare Zameen Par. Still, the film managed a decent total, even if it didn’t achieve the longevity one might expect from an Aamir Khan project.

By applying Aamir Khan’s weekend-to-lifetime multiple, 2025 offers a clearer picture of which films truly connected with audiences beyond just their hype and star power. As the year progresses, it will be interesting to see which upcoming titles can join this list of cinematic slow burners.

List of Successful movies of 2025 according to Aamir Khan’s formula

Chhaava - 4.94

Kesari - Chapter 2 - 3.76

Bhool Chuk Maaf - 2.58

Raid 2 - 2.41

Sitaare Zameen Par - 2.14

Sitaare Zameen Par is continuing its consistent run at theatres. After bringing online Rs. 3.75 crores on both Monday and Tuesday, the film did see a drop on Wednesday. However, it was still stable enough as around Rs. 3 crores* did come in. That’s fine because the trending will ensure that Thursday has a chance to stay over Rs. 2 crores mark despite new releases arriving.

In fact, there is a lot of challenge that the Aamir Khan starrer is facing from core multiplex movies. Last week it was F1 and this week it’s going to be Metro… In A Dino (which would be straight up competition as it’s exactly for the same set of audiences) and Jurassic World Rebirth (which is set to be the highest collecting film this weekend). Hence, the first challenge would be to actually retain its screens and shows, especially at premium multiplexes of major cities as this is where maximum moolah is coming for it as well.

Currently standing at Rs. 132.78 crores*, this RS Prasanna directed film will now go past the lifetime score of Aamir Khan’s last Rs. 100 Crore Club film Thugs of Hindostan (Rs. 151.19 crores) in the coming week. That movie was a straight up commercial film though and had actually taken a record start for a Bollywood film back in time, only to fold up rather quickly too. On the other hand, it has been an opposite trajectory for mid-budgeted Sitaare Zameen Par which has grown entirely on the basis of word of mouth, hence emerging as a hit.

*Estimates

Note: All collections as per various box office sources