Housefull 5, starring Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan, has released in theatres today (June 6). Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, this film marks Akshay Kumar’s return to the mindless comedy genre. It has got one of the biggest releases of his career, with around 5000 screens across India.
What’s unique this time is that the film has two different endings. It has been released as Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B, not because of different languages or formats, but because the climax is different in each version. The first two hours of the film are the same, but the last 20 minutes show different killers and different conclusions, which slightly changes the experience.
The story of Housefull is set on a cruise ship, where a rich man (played by Ranjeet) is murdered soon after he announces that his wealth will go to his successor, Jolly. The twist is that there are three people named Jolly – played by Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan. All three of them, along with their girlfriends (played by Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, and Nargis Fakhri), become suspects in the murder.
Distributors have said that both versions are being shown on almost the same number of screens. Many multiplexes are running two shows per screen for each version. The rest of the available slots are being used for Kamal Haasan’s film Thug Life, which also released this weekend. Also read: Birthday Special: Yogi Adityanath Story of Power Change and Fearless Leadership.
So, which version should you watch?
According to early reviews, the film’s comedy and slapstick humour are getting positive responses. Viewers are saying that version 5A gives a clear and satisfying ending, while 5B also works well but feels a bit forced to some. The filmmakers, including Akshay and Riteish, shared a video before the release asking fans to watch both versions, one after the other, to enjoy both endings.
The reason for this double-ending idea is mostly to increase box office collections. If people like the movie, they may return to watch the other ending too. Nowadays, most people don’t go to theatres twice for the same movie unless they’re very big fans, so the makers want to bring back that trend.
Housefull 5 is the fifth part of the popular Housefull franchise. It is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The film also stars Fardeen Khan, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Chunky Panday, Dino Morea, Johny Lever, Ranjeet, Soundarya Sharma, and others.
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