NEW DELHI: This year has witnessed the resurgence of the love of watching movies in theatre after pandemic and Covid scare. For fans of King Khan, the year came with two surprises- ‘Jawan’ and ‘Pathaan’. The sequel of superhit ‘Gadar’, with the pair of Sunny Deol and Amisha Patel, also earned audience recognition. Regional movies like ‘Leo (III)’ and ‘Jailer (I)’ also made to the list.
10 movies that created waves at box office in 2023:
1. Jawan
‘Jawan’, an action-packed thriller, delves into the emotional odyssey of a man determined to right the societal wrongs. Enlisting the aid of a formidable group of women, the film showcases their collective journey towards justice.
With a stellar cast led by Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, and Deepika Padukone under the direction of Atlee, the movie garnered immense acclaim and resonated with audiences worldwide.
Boasting an impressive box office performance, it earned Rs 1,160 crores globally with India net collection at Rs 640.25 crore against a budget of Rs 300 crores. Currently available on Netflix, it continues to captivate viewers with its gripping narrative and powerhouse performances.
2. Pathaan
‘Pathaan’, an adrenaline-fuelled blend of action, adventure, and thriller, centres on an Indian agent racing against time to thwart the malevolent plans of a ruthless mercenary aimed at India.
With Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, and Dimple Kapadia in leading roles, the film captivates audiences with its high-octane narrative. Salman Khan also makes a cameo appearance, adding to the film’s allure.
Directed by Siddharth Anand, ‘Pathaan’ made a splash at the box office, amassing Rs 1,055 crores worldwide, including an India net collection of Rs 543.09 crores against its Rs 250 crores budget.
Currently available on Prime Video, it continues to enthrall viewers with its gripping storyline and stellar performances.
3. Animal
‘Animal’, a riveting action-crime drama with a runtime of 204 minutes, presents a compelling narrative directed by Kabir Singh fame Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The film features a stellar cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Rashmika Mandanna.
With a gripping storyline, the movie garnered significant success, amassing Rs 784 crores globally, with an India net collection of Rs 476.84 crores as of now. Despite a reported budget of Rs 200 crores, the film’s compelling storyline and stellar performances captivated audiences worldwide. The movie is scheduled to release on Netflix after completing its theatrical run.
4. Gadar 2
‘Gadar 2’, an adrenaline-fuelled saga, stands tall as an action-packed adventure intertwining with gripping drama. Directed by Anil Sharma, the sequel to ‘Gadar’ features a stellar cast including Sunny Deol, Nana Patekar, and Utkarsh Sharma.
With an India net collection of Rs 525.7 crores and a global haul of Rs 686 crores, including an overseas collection of Rs 65.5 crores, ‘Gadar 2’ proved its mettle at the box office. Despite an approximate budget of Rs 80 crores, the movie soared to success, resonating with audiences worldwide.
Currently streaming on Zee5, it continues to captivate viewers with its riveting storyline and powerhouse performances.
5. Leo (III)
‘Leo (III)’ emerges as a gripping Indian Tamil-language action thriller helmed by director Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Seven Screen Studio. Vijay takes the lead as Parthi, a café owner and animal rescuer in Theog, ensnared in a tense pursuit by gangsters Antony and Harold Das, suspecting him to be Antony’s estranged son, Leo.
With a star-studded cast including Sanjay Dutt, Trisha, and Priya Anand, the film marks the third installment in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, drawing inspiration from ‘A History of Violence’ (2005), based on a graphic novel of the same name. Leo garnered immense praise and box office success, grossing Rs 605.25 crores worldwide, with India net collection at Rs 340.51 crores, against a budget of Rs 250 crores approximately.
Available for streaming on Netflix, ‘Leo’ continues to captivate audiences with its intense storyline and stellar performances.
6. Jailer (I)
‘Jailer (I)’, a vibrant Indian Tamil-language action comedy, comes to life under the direction of Nelson Dilipkumar and the production banner of Sun Pictures led by Kalanithi Maran. Rajinikanth leads the pack as a retired jailer on a mission to apprehend an eccentric idol smuggler.
The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring Vinayakan, Ramya Krishnan, Vasanth Ravi, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunil, Mirnaa Menon, and Yogi Babu, with special guest appearances by Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, and Jackie Shroff.
‘Jailer’ marks a gripping narrative that delighted audiences, earning a box office success with a worldwide collection of Rs 604.5 crores, India net collection of Rs 348.55 crores against a budget of approximately Rs 200 crores.
Available on Prime Video, this action-packed flick still continues to entertain viewers with its charismatic performances and engaging storyline.
7. Tiger 3
‘Tiger 3’, a 154-minute action-packed adventure directed by Maneesh Sharma, continues the gripping narrative from the events of ‘Tiger Zinda Hai.’
Focused on former RAW agent Avinash and ex-ISI agent Zoya, the film embarks on a perilous mission as they strive to clear their tarnished names, labelled as traitors. Starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi, and Riddhi Dogra in pivotal roles, ‘Tiger 3’ struck gold at the box office, amassing a staggering Rs 284.2 crores in India and a whopping Rs 466 crores worldwide.
8. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, a delightful tale directed by Karan Johar, brings forth the love story of a Punjabi man and a Bengali woman transcending their cultural disparities. Confronting familial resistance, they embark on a unique journey, deciding to immerse themselves in each other’s families for three months before tying the knot.
The movie stars Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi in pivotal roles, weaving a heartfelt narrative. With an estimated budget of Rs 150 crores, the film marked its presence with a domestic box office collection of Rs 153.5 crores and a robust worldwide box office achievement, amassing Rs 357 crores during its theatrical run.
This charming blend of comedy, drama, and family dynamics resonated with audiences worldwide. With its engaging storyline and stellar performances, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’ continues to captivate viewers, showcasing the beauty of love amidst cultural diversities.
Catch this romantic comedy on Prime Video, continuing to entertain viewers with its charismatic performances and engaging storyline.
9. Varisu
‘Varisu’, translating to ‘Heir,’ stands as an impactful Indian Tamil-language action drama directed by Vamshi Paidipally. Co-written by Hari and Ashishor Solomon, the film is a joint production effort by Dil Raju, Sirish, Sri Venkateswara Creations, and PVP Cinema.
The stellar cast includes Joseph Vijay, R. Sarathkumar, Srikanth, Shaam, Prabhu, Prakash Raj, Rashmika Mandanna, Jayasudha, Sangeetha, Samyuktha Shanmughanadhan, Nandini Rai, Yogi Babu, Ganesh Venkatraman, S. J. Suryah, and Suman in pivotal roles.
The narrative centres on an entrepreneur’s youngest son inheriting his father’s business empire, sparking tension with his older brothers. Despite receiving critical acclaim, ‘Varisu’ attained a moderate box office performance, gathering Rs 297.55 crores globally, with an India net collection of Rs 178.14 crores and a budget estimated around Rs 200 crores.
Available on Prime Video, this action thriller continues to entertain viewers with its charismatic performances and engaging storyline.
10. The Kerala Story
‘The Kerala Story’ is a poignant drama directed by Sudipto Sen and Vipul Amrutlal Shah, featuring an ensemble cast including Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, Siddhi Idnani, Devadarshini, and Vijay Krishna.
Centred around a woman’s conversion to Islam and her subsequent manipulation by extremists to join the Islamic State, the film delves into complex themes. Despite its sombre subject matter, the movie resonated strongly with audiences, earning acclaim as a blockbuster by trade pundits.
With a budget of Rs 15 crores, it soared to remarkable heights, grossing Rs 286.5 crores in India and reaching Rs 302 crores worldwide, making it a resounding success both critically and commercially.
Available for streaming on Zee5, ‘The Kerala Story’ continues to captivate audiences with its intense storyline and stellar performances.
