Feb 04, 2026 3:38pm IST
From War 2 To Thamma: Are Franchise Films Losing Their Box-Office Magic?
In the entertainment industry, whether it is Bollywood, Tollywood, Kollywood, Mollywood or Sandalwood, sequels and franchise films have always been considered money-spinners at the box office.
However, in 2025, the second parts and movies belonging to various genres within the popular universe of production houses, including War 2, Thamma, Dhadak 2, Son of Sardaar 2, De Pyaar De 2, Masti 4, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 and Baaghi 4, among others, failed to attract audiences at the ticket windows. In fact, the majority of them failed even to cross the collections of their prequels in the domestic market, which reflects the audience's lack of interest in such movies, regardless of the big names and banners. The epic fall of this lucrative trend has not only impacted the star value of actors but also the industry, which is undergoing a reset mode following the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Border 2 managed to turn the tide with its box-office performance, the year is filled with sequels and franchise movies like Drishyam 3, Dhamaal 4, Alpha and Shakti Shalini, among others, which might or might not hit gold at the ticket windows. Variety India analyzes the rise and fall of this trend and how it can impact the box-office fate of future releases.
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Every franchise has a shelf life
A franchise film works mainly due to the curiosity it piques in cine-goers, which later results in box-office numbers. “Every franchise has a shelf life and you should monetize it till people are extremely interested and excited about the way that's done,” said Akkshay Rathie, the director of Aashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd, adding, “It's important to let go of the franchise as well, which very often a lot of filmmakers don't do.”
Emphasizing the franchise’s relevance and water-tight writing, Rathie further said, “So, it's about the timing, and it's purely about the question of till what point can you keep the writing very interesting and interesting enough for people to want to be part of it and to be invested in that universe.”
Forced sequels lead to rejection
While Pushpa 2 and Stree 2 have turned out to be money-spinners, De Pyaar De 2, War 2, Son of Sardaar 2 and Dhadak 2 failed to make an impact at the box office. Veteran trade analyst, Taran Adarsh, remarked, “If you make a forced sequel, then they are bound to be rejected. Son of Sardaar 2 is a terrible film, and it doesn't come as a surprise that the film has failed at the box office. De De Pyaar De 2, I have not watched it. I believe it is a very ordinary film, again. Dhadak 2 was a well-made film, but Dhadak was never a brand as such. If there is a brand value attached to it, then people will definitely go and watch it.”
Raj Bansal, a film distributor and multiplex owner from Jaipur, called out Bollywood for making sequels of flop movies and labeled them ‘dishonest’. “I don't consider sequels and franchise movies as big films because we have become very dishonest. Hindi cinema doesn't have good stories, so there's no choice but to make a sequel. Earlier, a sequel was made only with a hit franchise. And now, whether a film is a hit or a flop, it doesn't matter. Everyone is after a sequel because it's very easy to write a script for a sequel,” opines Bansal.
Sequels have to be better or at par with the original
Citing the examples of Baahubali 2, KGF 2 and Pushpa 2, prominent trade analyst from Chennai, Ramesh Bala, explained that “the sequels should be better or at par with the original”. He shared that some sequels, like Jailer 2 and Drishyam 3, look exciting on paper. “So, we have to wait and see. I'm sure people will be waiting for some of these sequels as they feature big names,” said Bala.
Will the trend of sequels and franchise films fade away?
As Dhurandhar 2, Dhamaal 4 and Drishyam 3 are set to release this year, veteran trade analyst, Komal Nahta, shared that the trend of sequels will not fade away anytime soon. “I think the sequels and franchise films will be there for the next five to seven years or maybe more than that. I don't see them going out of fashion because Dhurandhar has done so well, and when Dhurandhar 2 comes, the opening itself will be earth-shattering.” While Vishek Chauhan, CEO at Roopbani Cinema in Bihar, also shared that the trend of sequels will continue in the entertainment industry, emphasizing that filmmakers should renovate the franchise to make it more relevant. “Just riding on something because it has been successful in the past does not guarantee you an opening or a business anymore,” Chauhan remarked.
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