Bollywood’s January Drought: Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency,’ Akshay Kumar’s ‘Sky Force’ Among Major Flops

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Key Highlights:

  1. ‘Emergency’ Tanks at the Box Office: Kangana Ranaut’s highly-anticipated film has failed to recover its budget despite initial buzz and controversies.
  2. ‘Sky Force’ Stumbles: Akshay Kumar’s film, made on a budget of ₹160 crore, had a promising weekend but collapsed on its first Monday, casting doubt on its financial success.
  3. Flop January for Bollywood: All five major January releases, including Ajay Devgn’s Azad, Sonu Sood’s Fateh, and Game Changer, failed to earn anywhere near their production costs.
  4. Weekend vs. Weekday Struggles: While ‘Sky Force’ earned ₹62.5 crore over its first weekend, it fell drastically to ₹6 crore on Day 4, highlighting weak sustainability.
  5. Industry Concerns: The series of flops raises questions about audience preferences, content quality, and the ever-growing challenge of pulling crowds back to theatres post-pandemic.

Mumbai: Bollywood’s box office is grappling with a sluggish start to 2025, as all five major January releases have failed to make a mark. Among them, Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency and Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force have turned out to be significant disappointments, with both struggling to recover their massive production budgets.

‘Emergency’s Struggles Despite Spotlight on Controversy

Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency, touted as a political drama and surrounded by controversies, was expected to make a strong mark at the box office. However, the film has joined the list of flops, generating lackluster earnings. Despite a decent performance on Republic Day (January 26), the film didn’t sustain its pace, failing the crucial Monday test, which often determines a movie’s long-term success.

‘Sky Force’: Akshay Kumar’s Latest Flop in a Challenging Phase

Akshay Kumar, once Bollywood’s box office titan, continues to face a tough time. His latest action drama, Sky Force, which had a promising start, is now struggling to meet expectations.

Sky Force Box Office Journey So Far:

  • Day 1: ₹12.25 crore
  • Day 2: ₹22 crore
  • Day 3 (Sunday): ₹28 crore
  • Total for First 3 Days: ₹62.5 crore

The enthusiasm around the weekend earnings fizzled out on Day 4 (Monday), with the film earning a dismal ₹6 crore. This drastic drop raises doubts about whether the film, made on a budget of ₹160 crore, will recover its costs or eventually join the growing list of Akshay Kumar’s underperforming projects.

A Grim Start for Bollywood in January

January 2025 has proven to be a tough month for Bollywood, with all five major releases underperforming at the box office.

List of January Flops:

  1. Emergency (Kangana Ranaut)
  2. Sky Force (Akshay Kumar)
  3. Azad (Ajay Devgn)
  4. Game Changer
  5. Fateh (Sonu Sood)

None of these films managed to come close to their production budgets, let alone break even. The situation is particularly worrying for Ajay Devgn’s Azad and Sonu Sood’s Fateh, both of which saw minimal footfalls and negligible earnings despite starring big names.

What’s Behind Bollywood’s Stagnation in 2025?

  1. Weak Content: Despite star power, audience demand for strong scripts and engaging storytelling remains unmet, leading to poor word-of-mouth.
  2. Audience Transition: Viewers are increasingly drawn to OTT platforms, where they find high-quality content at a fraction of the cost of a movie ticket.
  3. Ticket Pricing: Expensive multiplex tickets prevent average moviegoers from taking risks on films with mixed reviews.
  4. Genre Saturation: Over-reliance on action dramas or political biopics often leads to audience fatigue.

A Hopeful Future or Ongoing Struggle for Bollywood Stars?

For Akshay Kumar, the flop of Sky Force is another setback after a string of underperforming films in recent years. Once considered a reliable box office performer, Kumar is now facing increasing challenges in rekindling his superstar status.

For Kangana Ranaut, the failure of Emergency is a blow to her reputation as a filmmaker and leading actress after controversies around the project garnered media attention.

Industry Experts Weigh In

Bollywood analysts believe that theatrical releases are struggling to compete with the convenience of OTT releases, which have become the go-to choice for audiences post-pandemic. Trade analyst Komal Nahta commented, “The formula for box office success has changed. Audiences want relatable, gripping content that justifies both the price and effort of visiting a theatre. Mere star power is no longer enough.”

Can Bollywood Recover?

While February’s releases bring new hope, the lackluster box office numbers from January signal the need for introspection within the industry. With audiences demanding better storytelling and unique genres, filmmakers might have to innovate both in content and marketing strategies to reignite interest in theatres.

Five Films, Five Flops—A Lesson for Bollywood

January 2025 has set a challenging tone for Bollywood, as big-budget, star-driven films fail to connect with audiences. From Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency to Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force, the industry is grappling with the harsh reality that content and audience expectations have evolved beyond traditional cinematic formulas.

The year ahead will test the resilience and creativity of Bollywood in adapting to changing viewer preferences. As the box office struggles persist, will February’s slate of films bring relief to an ailing industry? Only time will tell.

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