Highest-grossing movies of 2025: The Indian box office witnessed one of its most diverse and eventful years in 2025, with films across Kannada, Hindi,
Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam cinema gaining remarkable traction. Big-budget spectacles, rooted regional stories and ambitious franchise films all competed for dominance, creating a year defined by scale, experimentation and unexpected triumphs.
As the year draws to a close, the top 10 highest-grossing Indian films of 2025 offer a clear picture of shifting audience preferences and emerging industry trends.
1. Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
Worldwide gross: Rs 853.4 crore
Verdict: Blockbuster
Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 emerged as the biggest success story of the year. Exploring the mystical origins of Kaadubettu Shiva during the Kadamba dynasty, the film blended folklore with grand cinematic scale. Backed by a Rs 130 crore budget, it dominated the box office with a staggering worldwide collection of Rs 853.4 crore and a domestic net of Rs 622.5 crore. Its cultural impact in Karnataka was profound, earning it the title of an “industry hit.”
2. Chhaava
Worldwide gross: Rs 808.7 crore
Verdict: Blockbuster
Starring Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna, Chhaava secured the second spot with a worldwide gross of Rs 808.7 crore. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Maratha Empire, the film chronicles Sambhaji Maharaj’s fierce resistance against Aurangzeb’s forces. Its emotional scale and powerful performances turned it into a pan-India triumph.
3. Saiyaara
Worldwide gross: Rs 575.8 crore
Verdict: Blockbuster
Mohit Suri’s romantic drama Saiyaara became the year’s surprise blockbuster. With a modest Rs 50 crore budget, it grossed Rs 575.8 crore globally. Starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film struck a chord among younger audiences with its intimate exploration of love, insecurities and self-discovery.
4. Coolie
Worldwide gross: Rs 516.7 crore
Verdict: Average
Rajinikanth returned in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, delivering a gritty revenge saga. Despite its Rs 350 crore budget and massive pre-release buzz, the film ended with an “average” verdict after earning Rs 516.7 crore worldwide. Its dramatic tone and ensemble cast, including Nagarjuna and Soubin Shahir, nonetheless kept audiences intrigued.
5. War 2
Worldwide gross: Rs 360.7 crore
Verdict: Flop
Despite sky-high expectations, the Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR-led War 2 fell short commercially. With a massive Rs 400 crore budget, the film grossed Rs 360.7 crore worldwide, marking one of the year’s biggest disappointments as its storyline failed to resonate with viewers.
6. Mahavatar Narsimha
Worldwide gross: Rs 326.1 crore
Verdict: Blockbuster
Released in late 2024, this mythological drama continued its strong run through early 2025. The film, made on a Rs 40 crore budget, earned Rs 326.1 crore globally. Its retelling of the Vishnu–Narsimha legend appealed widely to family audiences.
7. Lokah Chapter One: Chandra
Worldwide gross: Rs 302.1 crore
Verdict: All-time Blockbuster
Dominic Arun’s Malayalam hit Chandra became a milestone for Kerala’s film industry. With Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen in lead roles, the film grossed Rs 302.1 crore worldwide, setting new regional records and securing an “all-time blockbuster” verdict.
8. OG
Worldwide gross: Rs 298.1 crore
Verdict: Hit
Pawan Kalyan’s gangster drama OG made an impressive comeback for the actor, earning Rs 298.1 crore globally. It’s a tale of an underworld kingpin resurfacing after a decade and found solid traction among mass audiences.
9. Housefull 5
Worldwide gross: Rs 292.5 crore
Verdict: Average
Tarun Mansukhani’s multi-star comedy Housefull 5 packed a massive ensemble cast featuring Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff and more. The whodunnit-on-a-cruise concept generated buzz but received mixed reviews, resulting in a worldwide total of Rs 292.5 crore.
10. L2: Empuraan
Worldwide gross: Rs 268.1 crore
Verdict: Hit
Rounding off the list is L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film, which follows Stephen Nedumpally’s double life as Khureshi Ab’raam, earned Rs 268.1 crore globally and stayed steady at the box office.
