Housefull 5 Movie Review: Is it Comedy or Cringe? – Bollywood comedy fans were excited when Housefull 5 was released in theaters on June 6, 2025. Director Tarun Mansukhani and producer Sajid Nadiadwala made this film which was advertised to offer laughter, mystery and madness among a group of privileged travelers on a cruise. Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh and Abhishek Bachchan were among the many actors in the lead and the movie tried to add a new murder-mystery aspect to the franchise’s famous comedy. But as the curtain goes up, does Housefull 5 entertain viewers with the humor they’re looking for or does it crash under its own burden? Now, let’s discuss the ups and downs of this imaginative comedy-thriller.
The large group of Housefull 5 has a cast of 19
Housefull 5 has a cast of 19, the largest for an Indian movie so far. The film depends mainly on the lead cast—Akshay Kumar as Julius, Riteish Deshmukh as Jalabuddin and Abhishek Bachchan as Jalbhushan—who each believe they are key heirs to a billionaire’s wealth. A group of well-known Bollywood actors like Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Fardeen Khan, Johnny Lever and Chunky Panday fills the supporting roles in the film. The big names in the cast bring their own style to the film’s exciting plot.
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The comedy is largely based on Akshay Kumar’s talent for telling jokes and doing silly stunts which is fine because it’s his acting that keeps the film together. Riteish keeps making audiences laugh with his comfort zone as he tackles slapstick. Abhishek Bachchan impresses me by making his character amusing with a sudden turn that reveals new aspects. Veterans Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff make the film lively with their talk and Nana Patekar’s amusing character as an interpol chief wins the viewers’ attention when he appears. Yet, Fernandez, Fakhri, Bajwa and Chitrangada Singh’s roles are mainly shallow and do not offer much depth.
Story: A scramble to find answers while trying to solve a murder
It takes place on a luxury ship and it involves the sudden death of billionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal (played by Ranjeet) ahead of his 100th birthday. After naming “Jolly” to be the inheritor of his fortune, the will stirs confusion as three men—Julius, Jalabuddin and Jalbhushan—say they are Jolly. When the murderer kills the doctor in charge of running the DNA test, the trio are labeled as the prime suspects. With Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff as wild cops, the movie follows their search for answers, as characters keep exchanging identities, get drugged and forget things.
In this film, viewers get to see two versions, one with Housefull 5A as the title and another with 5B, meaning each gets its own killer and ending. By doing this, the creators try to make people wonder more and watch the show again. But the script which Mansukhani, Nadiadwala and Farhad Samji worked on together, does not succeed in bringing together the comedy and thriller genres. Even though the suspense is strong, the story feels too long, reaching nearly three hours and putting people’s patience to the test.
Is it Comedy or Cringe? The issue of humor.
Housefull films are famous for being extremely funny, but Housefull 5 strays from this model. A lot of the comedy in the film comes from over the top humor, clever jokes and tame jokes, but a few moments seem corny or outdated. Viewers look for smarter jokes and including animal beatings and jokes that offend some viewers takes the story in the wrong direction. According to Farhad Samji, the new dialogue is weak and could only pull laughs from ordinary people a couple of times, like Nana’s funny scene or its leading actor’s eyebrows.
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The latter part of the film stands out because the climax contains some clever surprises and veterans from Welcome and Hungama. In many cases, the jokes feel similar to those used in previous Housefull movies and do not add anything new to make this one better. Hardcore fans might find the warm feelings and chemistry enough, but some people watching for the first time might not see the comedy.
Great Efficiency and Aesthetic Style
The movie is a visual treat. The ship setting is stylishly done, with colorful costumes and first-rate production that offers an international atmosphere to the movie. The mixture of suspenseful music and the franchise’s laugh-out-loud moments creates a harmony with the film’s main story. “Laal Pari” and “Phoogdi” have music that makes you dance, along with their memorable choreography. Nevertheless, insertion of additional dance sequences lengthens the movie and loses pace.
Audience Reception: A Mixed Bag
Early reactions to Housefull 5 are polarized. Fans on X praise Akshay Kumar’s comic timing and the ensemble’s energy, with some calling it a “madcap entertainer” and predicting a box office haul of over ₹300 crore. Others, however, label it a “cringe-fest,” criticizing its recycled humor and lack of logic. The dual-ending strategy has sparked curiosity, with fans eager to compare 5A and 5B, but some feel the execution falls short of the franchise’s earlier highs. Trade analysts suggest the film could be a game-changer for Akshay Kumar, who has faced a string of recent flops, but its success hinges on word-of-mouth and repeat viewings.
All in all, the film offers a good time, but has some problems.
The film tried to give the Housefull franchise a new murder-mystery twist and a huge cast, but it didn’t achieve what it aimed for. The movie is genuinely funny and nostalgic thanks to the talented performances of Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan and Nana Patekar. Still, viewers may not enjoy the thing as much because it includes old-fashioned humor, a storyline that is difficult to follow and scenes that go on for too long. Having two different endings is interesting, but it can’t fix the uneven parts in the movie.
Fans of the Housefull movies will enjoy one more silly watch from the franchise, especially if they’re looking for light-hearted fun. But, audiences searching for tight jokes or a whole story may be disappointed. If you’re on this cruise, forget logic and get ready for a crazy, but not always smooth, journey.
