Housefull 5 (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – Three men on a giant cruise ship all claiming to be the real son and rightful heir to a fortune. Following a wild night where drinks are spiked, they wake to find their memories hazy, and are soon put in ship’s jail after a murder, with a pair of detectives flown in to determine which of three committed the crime.

My Take – With four installments released over the past fifteen years, by now you know what to expect when you walk into a Housefull franchise film. A critics-proof logic-less, loud, lively, and unapologetically over-the-top entertainer that will go to any length to deliver the promised escapist fun. Sticking to a clear formula that continues to be played similarly with every new entry, from wild disguises to epic misunderstandings, but delivered with the same comic commitment and such energy that you can’t help yourself but (at-least) chuckle.

Most importantly, the cast always seems to be having a blast, especially franchise staples Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh & Chunky Panday, and it’s hard not to get rolled up into the contagious enthusiasm particularly in a crowded theater. The same is also the case of this latest entry, which has director Tarun Mansukhani (Dostana) taking over the reins, adds an even larger ensemble and an unexpected murder mystery twist to its signature slapstick humor.

Yes, some jokes land hard, while others are predictable even before they’re delivered. And for some reason, unlike previous installments, it not only throws in sexual innuendos, but even objectifies the women, especially newcomer Soundarya Sharma‘s character. An element which might restrict family-viewing. But other than that it remains a lighthearted watch which can be best enjoyed without overthinking.

Interestingly, the film comes in two versions, A and B, with the killer and the final few minutes differing in both. Nevertheless, the story line and gags remains largely similar across both versions. With catchy music, vibrant visuals, and enough laugh-out-loud moments from start to finish, this one is pure Bollywood madness at its most entertaining.

The story follows a bunch of characters who find themselves in a peculiar situation when Ranjeet Dobriyal (Ranjeet), a wealthy and renowned 99-year-old billionaire dies just before his 100th birthday party on a cruise. But while his employees, Aakhri Pasta (Chunky Panday), Batuk Patel (Johnny Lever), Captain Sameer (Nikitin Dheer) and Doctor Aman Joshi (Akashdeep Sabir), and board members, Maya (Chitrangada Singh), Shiraz (Shreyas Talpade), and Bedi (Dino Morea), expect his son Dev (Fardeen Khan) to become the heir to his inheritance of 69 billion pounds.

Ranjeet’s clumsy lawyer Lucy (Soundarya Sharma) throws in a wrench in the form of a will which declares Jolly, his son from his first wife, as his heir. Though everyone is left stunned and await the arrival of the unknown Jolly. A chaotic situation begins with arrivals of three Jollys, each with their own foreign wife: Jalabuddin (Riteish Deshmukh) with Zara (Sonam Bajwa), Jalbhushan (Abhishek Bachchan) with Sasikala (Jacqueline Fernandez), and Julius (Akshay Kumar) with Kaanchi (Nargis Fakhri).

Amid the quest of finding the real Jolly, a brutal murder happens aboard, making the dozen of them suspects, prompting the arrival of bumbling cops Baba (Jackie Shroff) and Bhidu (Sanjay Dutt) to solve the case.

Here, director Mansukhani does a commendable job in keeping the chaos controlled and the laughs coming. The twists, comic punches, and pacing are all effectively managed. Co-written by Sajid Nadiadwala, Mansukhani and Farhad Samji, the first half is spent establishing the conflict and delivering the franchise’s usual fare: mistaken identities, someone’s girlfriend being someone’s wife. There’s rarely a dull moment and nothing is spared in the effort to make you laugh.

While the second half does feel slightly stretched, it regains momentum by the climax, delivering a payoff reminiscent of 2000s Priyadarshan-style comedies. While some songs are captivating on the screen, it’s the background score that earns more points. The cinematography is decent, and the production values are grand.

Personally, I felt the ending of 5A worked better than the ending of 5B. As I mentioned above, the film does feature adult comedy and suggestive dialogue, so parental discretion is advised for younger viewers. There are a couple of problematic sequences too, but you ignore those because the makers never claimed that they are setting out to make a politically correct film.

Performance wise, as one would expect, Akshay Kumar is in top form with flawless comic timing, reminding us again why he was sorely missed in this genre. Riteish Deshmukh once again adds value to the narrative with punchlines, his little quirks, and his goofiness. Abhishek Bachchan too delivers a funny act, but he gets a meatiest part in the second half. The ladies – Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakri, Sonam Bajwa, Soundarya Sharma and Chitrangda Singh, add glamour and charm to the proceedings, even though they are rarely used more than eye-candies. However, Sonam Bajwa manages to leave a mark.

In supporting roles, Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea, Nikitan Dheer, and Shreyas Talpade are mostly underutilized, Chunky Panday and Johnny Lever are a hoot as always, while Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff and Nana Patekar are delightful. On the whole, ‘Housefull 5‘ is a larger, louder and glossier comedy mystery installment that delivers the expected rollercoaster of chaos, humor, and thrills.