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.
