'Housefull 5': Will the formula work? From references to meta humor with the biggest names in Bollywood

Bollywood's most chaotic comedy franchise is back and this time, it's boarding a luxury yacht with a body count. The trailer for Housefull 5, directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, was unveiled on Tuesday, setting social media abuzz with a mix of nostalgia, excitement, and of course, skepticism. Packed with outrageous humour, old-school antics, and a suspicious death in the middle of a high-profile birthday bash, the trailer promises a cocktail of everything the Housefull franchise is known for with a twist of whodunnit.

The clip kicks off with the commanding voiceover of Nana Patekar, who sets the tone for an extravagant 100th birthday celebration aboard a gleaming cruise ship. A billionaire, surrounded by stars and sycophants, stuns everyone by announcing that he's leaving behind his massive inheritance to his beloved son "Jolly." Just as the crowd begins to cheer, the film throws its first curveball: there isn't just one Jolly, but three, played by the trio of Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan. Fans of the franchise will immediately clock this as a clever callback to Housefull 2, where four suitors all pretended to be the same man, Jolly in order to win over a wealthy father and his daughter.

This time, the stakes are higher and the chaos deeper. A wild night ensues where drinks are drugged, memories erased, and a cold-blooded murder unfolds. The billionaire host ends up dead, and the three Jollys unable to remember a single thing find themselves squarely in the line of suspicion. Cue the arrival of a hilariously oddball cop duo, Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff whose entry is already winning the trailer game. Jackie, in peak deadpan swagger, even drops a cheeky line while in his car: "Chhoti bacchi ho kya?" A self-aware nod to his son Tiger Shroff's iconic Heropanti dialogue that had once gone viral. This is where Housefull 5 starts to flex its self-referential muscle.

The trailer is filled to the brim with meta moments and callbacks that act like winks to longtime fans. One standout gag features Akshay Kumar getting repeatedly slapped by monkeys, a direct and deliberate echo of Housefull 1, where a monkey's slap kickstarted a chain of comedy-of-errors that would become a signature of the franchise.

But what really ties the trailer together is its generous use of Easter eggs from across the previous four installments. The flamboyant styling of characters and over-the-top personas clearly channels Ranjeet's iconic look and tone from Housefull 2, bringing that loud, comic villainy back into fashion. During the yacht party sequences, fans will spot moments reminiscent of Housefull 4, particularly the wives-and-girlfriends swapping confusion, an absurd trope from the reincarnation-themed chaos of the fourth film. Amidst this madness, the trailer also revives one of the franchise's most loved tune, the unmistakable notes of "Papa Toh Band Bajaye" from Housefull 2 play in the background during a chase scene. Meanwhile, the dynamic between Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff brings together two legendary faces from Bollywood's action era, cheekily evoking their past avatars in Hero and Khalnayak.

And yes, there's random slapping, a franchise tradition that started in Housefull 1 and has escalated through every film. Whether it's monkeys, mistaken identities, or just sheer bad luck, no Housefull film is complete without someone getting smacked mid-scene for no reason and Housefull 5 leans into that wholeheartedly.

Naturally, the trailer has divided the internet. Some fans are overjoyed. One X user declared, "Finally Akki back with his comedy!" while another posted, "Blockbuster loading!" Nostalgia is a strong force, especially when tied to a franchise that's been running since 2010. But not everyone's buying it. A more cautious voice online remarked, "A comedy film cannot be judged by just a 3-4 minute trailer. Some parts of the trailer are very good while some parts are a bit average." Then there were harsher critics who labeled it "cheap B-grade cringe."

Which leads to the real question: Is this brand of brainless comedy still relevant in 2025?

It's true that Indian audiences today are more vocal, more discerning, and far less forgiving. OTT platforms have raised the bar for storytelling, and younger viewers in particular gravitate towards smarter, more grounded narratives. Can a film that proudly sells itself on slapstick, silliness, and throwbacks really compete in this new cinematic climate?

Perhaps it can. After all, the Housefull films have never promised logic, they've promised laughter, lunacy, and lavish sets. And that's what Housefull 5 seems determined to deliver. With a massive ensemble that also includes Fardeen Khan, Shreyas Talpade, Jacqueline Fernandez, Chitrangada Singh, Nargis Fakhri, Dino Morea, Sonam Bajwa, Soundarya Sharma, Chunky Pandey, and Johnny Lever, the film could serve as both a nostalgic reunion and a new-age revival.

Whether it's a refreshing blast from the past or a tired retread depends entirely on how audiences receive it come release day. But one thing is certain: Housefull 5, releasing worldwide on June 6, 2025, has no intention of playing it safe. It's wild, wacky, and wholly aware of its legacy.

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