Bollywood, known for its vibrant and often extravagant productions, experienced a year of mixed fortunes in 2025. While some films soared to great heights, several big-budget ventures failed to resonate with audiences, resulting in significant losses at the box office. Despite the presence of established stars and massive production costs, weak scripts and poor execution led to the downfall of these films. Here's a look at nine of the biggest Bollywood disappointments of 2025:

1. Sikandar

Starring Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna, Sikandar was directed by A.R. Murugadoss and carried high expectations. Made on a budget of ₹200 crore, the film grossed ₹182.7 crore worldwide. Despite the initial buzz and a holiday release during Eid, Sikandar couldn't maintain momentum due to mixed reviews and weak word-of-mouth. The film blends action and family drama with social themes.

2. War 2

As one of the most anticipated films of 2025, War 2 aimed to continue the success of the War franchise. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr. NTR, and Kiara Advani and directed by Ayan Mukerji, the movie was made with a budget of ₹400 crore. However, War 2 grossed ₹360.7 crore worldwide, falling short of expectations.

3. Emergency

Kangana Ranaut's Emergency, a political drama centered on the Emergency period in India, faced controversies and postponements. Despite Ranaut's multiple roles as director, producer, and lead actress, the film only managed to earn around ₹22.5 crore worldwide against a budget of ₹50 crore.

4. Son of Sardaar 2

A standalone sequel to the 2012 hit, Son of Sardaar 2 featured Ajay Devgn, Mrunal Thakur, and Ravi Kishan. Made on a budget of ₹100 crore, the film grossed ₹65.8 crore worldwide and failed to live up to expectations.

5. Baaghi 4

The Baaghi franchise seemed to lose its steam with Baaghi 4. Despite Tiger Shroff's action sequences, the film, directed by Harsha, grossed ₹49.1 crore worldwide against a budget of ₹80 crore. Some viewers felt it unsuccessfully tried to emulate the gore and violence of Animal.

6. Dhadak 2

Dhadak 2, a romantic drama starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, aimed to capture hearts with its socially relevant themes. However, it only collected approximately ₹29 crore against an estimated budget of ₹45 crore, leading to its failure at the box office.

7. Azaad

Starring Aman Devgan and Rasha Thadani, Azaad was one of the biggest flops of the year. Made at a cost of around ₹80 crore, the film failed to attract audiences and grossed less than ₹10 crore.

8. Deva

Despite large-scale promotions, Shahid Kapoor's Deva didn't perform well at the ticket window. Made on a budget of ₹55 crore, the film only managed to earn around ₹35 crore.

9. Fateh

Directed by Sonu Sood, Fateh was expected to perform well, but it failed to survive at the box office. Made on a budget of around ₹30 crore, the film was released on January 10, 2025, but its total earning was only around ₹17 crore.

Several factors contributed to these failures. Weak plots, excessive violence, and unsatisfactory visuals were major reasons for the downfall of these big-budget films. Additionally, some films were mired in controversy, which affected audience reception. Despite the setbacks, Bollywood experienced overall growth and recovery in 2025, with films like Chhaava, Housefull 5, Saiyaara, and Dhurandhar achieving commercial success. These successes highlighted the importance of content, star appeal, and the theatrical experience in driving audience engagement.