In the cinematic landscape of 2023, a significant correlation between budget and box office returns emerged, revealing the true winners and disappointments of the year. While high anticipation often accompanied certain films, their success at the box office didn’t always align with expectations.
The Kerala Story
Topping the charts in terms of profitability vis-à-vis its budget is ‘The Kerala Story,’ produced and directed by Vipul Amritlal Shah. Director Sudeepto Sen attempted to shed light on the exploitation of innocent girls in the name of love jihad, delivering a message through this film. Despite its modest ₹15 crore budget, the domestic box office collection stood at a staggering ₹242.20 crores.
Gadar 2
Following closely behind in the hit parade of 2023 is Anil Sharma’s ‘Gadar 2,’ which, despite earning only ten times its budget, secured the second spot. Starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, this film, made on a budget of just ₹60 crores, raked in ₹523.45 crores at the box office.
Animal
Securing the third position in the 2023 hit parade is ‘Animal,’ an action-packed film in Ranbir Kapoor’s illustrious career. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, this movie, made on a mere ₹100 crore budget, soared to ₹539.09 crores by its fourth Tuesday after release.
Jawaan
Making its mark at fourth place is ‘Jawaan,’ featuring Shah Rukh Khan in a father-son dual role, earning acclaim for Khan’s performance. Directed by Atlee Kumar, this film, addressing topics from the Indian Army to farmers, gathered ₹643.87 crores despite a ₹300 crore budget.
Pathan
At the start of the year, Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Pathan’ maintained success upon its release. Directed by Siddharth Anand, this action thriller, part of the YRF spy universe and co-starring Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, collected ₹543.05 crores against a budget of ₹225 crores, claiming the fifth position in the box office hits list.
OMG 2
Amit Rai’s ‘OMG 2’ advocated for mandatory sex education in schools. Starring Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, and Yami Gautam, this movie, primarily carried by Tripathi and Gautam, with Kumar in an inspirational role, earned ₹150.17 crores on a ₹50 crore budget.
Dream Girl 2
Filmmaker Raj Shandilya’s ‘Dream Girl 2’ marked Ayushmann Khurrana’s distinctive portrayal, earning ₹104.90 crores in 21 days against a ₹35 crore budget.
12th Fail
Producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s ’12th Fail’ depicted the life journey of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma. Starring Vikrant Massey, the biopic made ₹53.68 crores against its ₹20 crore budget, securing the eighth spot.
Sam Bahadur
The ninth spot on the list is held by ‘Sam Bahadur,’ a film based on the life of Field Marshal Manekshaw, featuring Vicky Kaushal in the lead role. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the movie managed ₹81.95 crores at the domestic box office against an estimated ₹50 crore budget.
Tiger 3
Lastly, ‘Tiger 3,’ starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, under the Yash Raj Films banner, failed to replicate its predecessors’ success, earning ₹285.52 crores against a massive ₹300 crore budget, landing in the tenth spot.
While anticipation and hype often set the stage for success, the box office realities of 2023 showcased a diverse range of outcomes, proving that success isn’t always guaranteed despite star power and promotion.
