The year witnessed the resurgence of macho heroes, sequels, and films with a strong message, signaling a revival of the Hindi film industry. The alpha male made a grand return to the big screen, with Shah Rukh Khan leading Bollywood’s resurgence at the box office. Sunny Deol and Karan Johar also revitalized their careers, contributing to the revival of the Hindi film industry.
The year, the first one after the pandemic, started with Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Pathaan’ and ended with ‘Dunki’. These two distinct films from Shah Rukh Khan encapsulated the success of Sunny Deol’s ‘Gadar 2’, Johar’s ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani’, and the highly debated ‘Animal’, which brought Bobby Deol back into the spotlight. This year truly marked a new chapter for Bollywood.
2023 Bollywood movies
1. Jawan:
“Jawan”, a 2023 thriller, won audiences with its potent social and political commentary. The film addresses corruption, injustice, and environmental issues, referencing real-life incidents for impact. Shah Rukh Khan’s performance was lauded, contributing to its success. Despite its serious themes, “Jawan” remains a family entertainer, blending action, emotion, romance, and drama. It is nominated for Best International Feature at the 2024 ASTRA Awards.
The action/thriller genre saw some major releases. “Jawan”, one of Shah Rukh Khan’s films, was the most hyped and anticipated Indian movie of the summer. It had a worldwide box office collection of approximately ₹1,148.32 crore.
2. Pathaan:
“Pathaan”, a much-anticipated film marking Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the screen after four years, was well-received by audiences. The film, also starring Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, generated excitement among fans and added to its appeal. The action sequences, choreographed by Hollywood’s Casey O’Neill, were highly praised. Adding to its uniqueness, “Pathaan” is the first ever Bollywood film fully shot using IMAX cameras, providing a unique viewing experience. The film’s trailer created a fan frenzy, being watched more than 51 million times on YouTube, indicating the high level of anticipation for the film.
Marking the return of Shah Rukh Khan to the screen after four years, this film had a great opening and reception. “Pathaan”, marking the return of Shah Rukh Khan to the screen after four years. The film had a great opening and reception in the US. It had a worldwide box office collection of approximately ₹1,050.30 crore.
3. Gadar 2:
“Gadar 2” resonated with many viewers due to a variety of factors. The commanding performance by Sunny Deol, coupled with his impactful dialogues, left a strong impression on the audience. The film’s music, particularly the rendition of Uttam Singh’s ‘Udd jaa Kaale Kaava’ by Udit Narayan, was another aspect that people found appealing. The movie also tapped into a sense of nostalgia, reviving themes of patriotism and familial love amidst war, which struck a chord with many. However, it’s worth noting that opinions varied, with some viewers feeling that the movie lacked a robust premise and well-developed characters. Ultimately, the reception of “Gadar 2” was as diverse as the audience itself, reflecting a wide range of tastes and preferences.
Despite receiving mixed reviews, this movie sold more than 2 lakh tickets in advance booking alone. It had a worldwide box office collection of approximately ₹691.08 crore.
4. Animal:
“Animal” was lauded for its intense action, unique vision, and Ranbir Kapoor’s standout performance as a complex son. The diverse ensemble cast and the compelling narrative of familial complexities amidst crime added depth to the film. However, criticisms arose regarding its length, violence, and writing, with some feeling the film lost momentum in the second half. Thus, “Animal” elicited a wide range of responses from viewers.
This film generated considerable buzz due to Ranbir Kapoor’s never-seen-before avatar. It had a worldwide box office collection of approximately ₹772 crore.
5. Sam Bahadur
“Sam Bahadur”, a biopic on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, starring Vicky Kaushal, was a box office success, crossing the ₹100 crore mark globally within 17 days. The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising Kaushal’s performance and the depiction of Manekshaw’s career, but some felt it was rushed. Despite this, it was deemed watchable, earning an IMDb rating of 8.4/10 and a Times of India rating of 3.5/5
6. Tiger 3:
“Tiger 3” garnered mixed reactions. The film’s intense action, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s performances, and Maneesh Sharma’s direction were praised. Emraan Hashmi’s role as the antagonist was also appreciated. However, criticisms arose regarding its formulaic plot, length, violence, and writing. Some felt it lost momentum in the second half and found the background score jarring. Despite this, it was seen as a good addition to the franchise.
This film generated enough buzz and trade analysts were hopeful about its box office collection. The exact box office collection is not available.
7. The Kerala Story:
“The Kerala Story” was praised for its high production values, engaging screenplay, and Adah Sharma’s powerful portrayal of a radicalized girl. The film’s authenticity, drawn from real-life incidents, and its cinematography were also appreciated. However, some viewers criticized the writing and acting, finding the narrative cringeworthy and performances lacking. Thus, the film elicited a range of responses, reflecting the diverse tastes of its audience.
This film generated considerable buzz but received mixed reviews. It had a worldwide box office collection of approximately ₹303.97 crore.
8. Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani:
“Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani” received a mixed response. The film’s action sequences, performances by Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, and Maneesh Sharma’s direction were appreciated. Its vibrant presentation and underlying message were also praised. However, it faced criticism for its formulaic plot, length, and writing. Despite this, it was seen as a good addition to the franchise, offering ample entertainment. It has a 3.5/5 rating on Times of India.
This film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It had a worldwide box office collection of approximately ₹357.5 crore.
9. Chhatriwali:
“Chhatriwali”, featuring Rakul Preet Singh and Sumeet Vyas, received a mixed response. The film’s social commentary on ‘safe sex’ and the lead actors’ performances were praised. Its humorous take on taboo subjects like contraceptives was also appreciated. However, it faced criticism for its predictability and packaging. Despite this, it was deemed watchable and has ratings of 3.0/5 on Times of India and 6.7/10 on IMDb.
This film generated considerable buzz and was expected to debut on Zee5 in late September 2023. It had a worldwide box office collection of approximately ₹303.97 crore.
10.12th Fail
“12th Fail”, inspired by the real-life stories of IPS Officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and IRS Officer Shraddha Joshi, performed well at the box office, nearing ₹40 crore. The film’s inspiring narrative and Vikrant Massey’s performance were praised, as was its approach to social issues. However, some found it predictable. It has an IMDb rating of 8.4/10 and a Times of India rating of 4.0/5.
11. Adipurush:
“Adipurush” received a mixed response. The film’s intense action and the performances by Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan were appreciated. However, it faced criticism for its formulaic plot, lengthy runtime, and underdeveloped characters. Some viewers felt the film lost its appeal in the second half and found the background score jarring. Despite these criticisms, it was seen as an entertaining addition to the franchise.
One of the most anticipated films of 2023, however, it received negative reviews from critics. It had a worldwide box office collection of approximately ₹280 crore.
12. OMG 2
“OMG 2”, a 2023 satirical comedy-drama, explores sex education in India. It received positive reviews for its humor, message, and performances, particularly Akshay Kumar’s. The film opened with ₹10.26 crores, collected ₹150 crores domestically, and grossed over ₹221 crores globally, making it 2023’s seventh highest-grossing Hindi film.
2023: A good year for Bollywood?
In 2023, the movie industry experienced a significant revival, with the gross box office potentially surpassing ₹12k crore. This resurgence was marked by several unexpected hits, such as “12th Fail” and “The Kerala Story”. Despite facing stiff competition from Sunny Deol’s “Gadar 2”, “12th Fail” managed to rake in ₹151.16 crore in India. Hindi films increased their contribution to India’s annual gross box office collections to 44%, up from 33% in 2022. However, the year also saw some major flops. For instance, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” only managed to bring home just over $380 million worldwide, despite a reported budget of $300 million.
These achievements provide a snapshot of the diversity of genres, the varying levels of hype, and the financial successes and failures in Bollywood in 2023. It was indeed an exciting year for Bollywood!
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