All four Housefull films gave us laughter. But does Housefull 5 mix suspense with comedy? Akshay Kumar returns — find out in our full review.
- Storyline and Plot
It begins with the birthday celebrations of the cruise owner Ranjeet Dobriyal on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Unfortunately, he passes away due to a sudden heart attack on the cruise before the celebration party begins. Doctor Aman Joshi (played by Akashdeep Sabir) is present to operate on him, but despite several attempts, he is unable to save him.
Before his death, Ranjeet had set up an automatic machine system, which creates a fake live visual representation of him interacting with people, making it appear as though he is alive. Since it was his centenary birthday, a group of leads was appointed to oversee the celebration.
These people include Akshay Kumar (Jolly L3), Ritesh Deshmukh (Jalabuddin Jolly 1), Abhishek Bachchan (Jalbhushan aka Jolly), Shreyas Talpade, Jacqueline Fernandez (Shashikala), Sonam Bajwa (Zara), Nargis Fakhri (Kaanchi), Chitrangda Singh (Maya, Baba’s ex-wife), Fardeen Khan (Dev Dobriyal, Ranjeet’s second son and CEO of the Board of Directors), and Soundarya Sharma (Lucy, Baba’s girlfriend and Ranjeet’s lawyer).
All these people are invited and asked to take charge of ensuring the smooth execution of the event. That night, however, things take a spooky turn when a mystery unfolds on the ship. Doctor Aman Joshi is murdered. Everything on board becomes suspicious, and the main goal for the group is to find out who the killer is and what the motive was. Will they succeed? That is the central mystery of the film.
The story, penned by Sajid Nadiadwala, provides a basic scope for an entertainment package but also feels slightly routine. It keeps the audience hooked by maintaining suspense around the killer’s identity while integrating comedic elements. However, sharper writing would have elevated the experience.
While some audiences may find the comedy enjoyable, others may consider it cheap or repetitive, especially in comparison to previous Housefull films. The “murder” angle is a familiar trope within the franchise. Overall, the storyline functions as an average entertainer. The repetition from previous entries might weaken the impact for some, but it still manages to entertain on a basic level.
2. Actor’s Performances
Akshay Kumar as Julius Jolly L3 is decent and works well in the comedy elements. Some scenes may land differently with different viewers — some will laugh, others may find the humor routine. His expressions are decent throughout, although emotional scenes are few. Adding more emotional weight could have enhanced his character.
Abhishek Bachchan as Jalbhushan Jolly L2 has well-written moments, though some scenes feel silly. His humor during suspense sequences adds charm. Towards the climax, his performance becomes more engaging. However, some expressions, especially during the interrogation scene with Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff, feel out of sync. His emotional scenes start weak but improve over time.
Ritesh Deshmukh as Jalabuddin Jolly 1 is decent overall. His expressions need improvement in some areas to make the humor more effective. One scene involving retrieving a key using a stick stands out for laughs. His performance is fair, though emotional moments are mostly absent.
Jacqueline Fernandez as Shashikala adds charm in select scenes. Acting-wise, she delivers a fair to mixed performance. Weak character writing limits her impact. Her dance numbers are enjoyable but not exceptional. Emotional depth is almost absent, which is a drawback.
Sonam Bajwa as Zara provides a decent mix of laughter and charm. While some of her scenes feel odd, she delivers a solid performance in comic scenes. She contributes to the suspense and humor but lacks emotional depth. Some pre-interval scenes don’t land as well in terms of expressions or timing.
Sanjay Dutt as Chief Inspector Bhidu fits his role. His scenes add suspense and occasional humor. His expressions work to some extent, though certain scenes (e.g., the sofa conversation with Maya) feel unnecessary and may bore viewers. A scene where Jackie hits Akshay also feels forced but slightly humorous.
Jackie Shroff as Chief Inspector Baba adds decent comic value. The “Chhoti Bacchi” dialogue stands out but is copied from Heropanti. He brings energy to his role, although there’s no emotional arc to his character.
The rest of the cast delivers decent performances. However, the lack of emotional depth across characters is a major flaw.
Bobby Deol, in a special appearance as Jalal Dobriyal (Real Jolly), son of Ranjeet, enhances the film’s appeal. His entry is delightful.
Nana Patekar as Superintendent Dhagdu Hulgund plays a fair role with effective expressions.
Soundarya Sharma as Lucy performs well in terms of dance and basic acting, though her role also lacks emotional development.
3. Screenplay and Direction
The screenplay by Sajid Nadiadwala is decent to average. Compared to earlier entries, it remains familiar and lacks novelty. While suspense films require engaging mystery and thrill, Housefull 5 offers mixed results. Some suspense scenes — particularly post-interval — are effective and elevated by silence.
However, many scenes follow a lighter tone, which may divide the audience. Some drama scenes are enjoyable, while others feel borrowed or cheap. A few drama scenes may not be received so well because they include vulgar elements present in them. The root cause lies in inconsistent writing. Some jokes and humor land well, while others feel flat or meaningless.
The story often feels like a rehash of older Housefull films and lacks emotional depth. A stronger emotional base could have improved the impact, particularly during comic or dramatic scenes. Even the reveal of the killer in the climax fails to shock.
Every story no matter not a logic-based film just for entertainment, even then every story needs a proper emotional core which will resonate with the audience well. The fact of entertainment which is decent and basic is acceptable but when the characters and the core end of the film and story lacks a proper emotional connectivity then firstly the screenplay feels weak and secondly the connection of the film to some part of audiences may feel weak and that is what happens with Akshay Kumar’s film Housefull 5 too.
The screenplay will likely receive mixed responses. Suspense scenes provide some thrill, but weak comedy, flat emotions, and repetitive content drag it down.
Tarun Mansukhani’s direction is decent but doesn’t rise above average. While the film entertains in places, it borrows heavily from previous Hindi and international cruise-based murder mysteries.
Character development is weak, emotional resonance is negligible, and while the pacing is brisk, the writing leaves much to be desired. Overall, direction and screenplay are decent but fall short of expectations due to narrative flaws and lack of originality.
4. Dialogues
The dialogues are mostly routine. A few lines, such as the one from Sanjay Dutt shown in the trailer, stand out. Most dialogues maintain a predictable tone, offering limited freshness.
5. Songs
The songs are enjoyable. “Laal Pari” stands out as a hit, while the rest are fair and pleasant to listen to.
6. Cinematography
The cinematography, especially of the cruise and sea visuals, is impressive and bright. The interior shots of the cruise are well-shot and visually appealing, though the rest are just fair.
7. Final Verdict
Housefull 5 is a decent entertainer with average storytelling. While it offers basic fun, some humor, and a few suspenseful sequences, it suffers from weak writing, shallow character arcs, and a missing emotional core.
The suspense scenes deliver thrills, but overall, the film’s comedy and drama will get mixed to negative responses.
Rating:
- 3 out of 5 stars for basic entertainment, a few funny moments, and suspense elements during the suspense scenes.
- 2 out of 5 stars for writing, story, character development, and emotional depth.
The film opened to mixed reviews — good at some locations but underwhelming in others. It released on June 6, 2025, in PVR and INOX, in Hindi 2D, and came in two versions: Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B. The versions are nearly identical except for a character change in the killer and 5 minutes of footage; Housefull 5A is the main version.
You can prefer a weekend watch for Housefull 5A.
With its ensemble cast and cruise-based killer-comedy plot, the film may appeal to fans of light entertainment and is expected to perform decently at the box office.
Watch the trailer here.
