2024 was a mixed bag for Bollywood, but unfortunately, the "misses" far outweighed the "hits." While Stree 2 soared to record-breaking heights, many big-budget projects with A-list stars stumbled at the box office. Several films failed to hit the mark, whether they were high-octane action dramas or emotional sagas. This continuous trend proves that even star power and massive budgets aren't enough to guarantee success. So, let's dive into the biggest Bollywood box office flops of the year and see how these films failed to make the cut.
Alia Bhatt's much-anticipated film Jigra, directed by Vasan Bala, even though it opened to high expectations, floundered with underwhelming box office numbers. The movie was made on a budget of ₹90 crore budget but only managed to collect ₹23.6 crore so far. The collection once again reminded that even the heavy weight of a big name is not enough to save a movie.
(Credit: akshaykumar/@instagram)
Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff teamed up for this high-action entertainer, but the ₹250 crore film only earned ₹75.4 crore. Despite its flashy marketing and star-studded cast, the film was dubbed one of the year's biggest disasters.
Kartik Aaryan delivered yet another box-office disappointment with Chandu Champion. Despite being made on a moderate ₹95 crore budget, it only raked in ₹75.4 crore, struggling to break even.
Ajay Devgn's Maidaan, inspired by the golden era of Indian football, was another colossal failure. With a staggering budget of ₹150 crore, the film could only bring in Rs 62.8 crore. The movie's failure cemented the struggle for success for sports films in Bollywood.
The movie was released during the Independence Day weekend; this ensemble cast film clashed with heavyweights like Stree 2. Unfortunately, it collected only ₹44.6 crore against a ₹95 crore budget, making it another major flop for Akshay Kumar this year.
(Credit: sidmalhotra/@instagram)
Sidharth Malhotra's Yodha, a much-hyped action film, couldn't keep up with audience expectations. Produced at a cost of ₹65 crore, it barely managed to scrape ₹42.2 crore.
A remake of Suriya's acclaimed Soorarai Pottru, Akshay Kumar's Sarfira may have won hearts critically but failed commercially. The film, made on a ₹90 crore budget, garnered just ₹29.3 crore.
Ajay Devgn's romantic drama, co-starring Tabu, Jimmy Shergill, and Sai Manjekar, was another dud. Although the movie was made for ₹85 crore, it barely crossed ₹12.8 crore, marking it as one of the biggest disasters of his career.
There can be myriads of reasons that can range from weak scripts to ineffective marketing and even stiff competition from films like Stree 2. Nowadays, audiences seem to be growing more selective, prioritising quality storytelling over star appeal and extravagant budgets.
2024's flops highlight a turning point in Bollywood—one where substance is starting to outweigh style. Will the industry learn from these setbacks? Only time will tell.
