Every year, cinema lovers around the world eagerly anticipate international releases. In 2025, major studios relied on big budgets, aggressive marketing and star-studded casts, yet many highly anticipated Hollywood and Bollywood titles failed to meet expectations.
For this feature, TIMES revisits some of the year’s most talked-about films that ultimately struggled to impress audiences.
Hollywood
Captain America: Brave New World
Verdict: Underperformer
The 35th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe opened strongly but quickly lost momentum. Growing fatigue with formulaic superhero narratives dulled its impact, despite praised performances from Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson and Harrison Ford. The film earned $415.1 million worldwide against a $180 million budget.Snow White (Live-action)
Verdict: Flop
Disney’s latest live-action remake failed to strike a balance between nostalgia and reinvention. Despite starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, the film grossed only $206 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $240 to $270 million, falling short of breaking even.
Mickey 17
Verdict: Below expectations
Bong Joon-ho’s first major release since Parasite arrived with high expectations and a $118 million budget. While performances and direction earned critical praise, box office returns did not reach the level required for commercial success.
Thunderbolts
Verdict: Underperformer
Marketed as a bold new direction for the MCU, the ensemble film starring Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan grossed $382.4 million worldwide on a $180 million budget. The figures were respectable but modest by blockbuster standards.
Tron: Ares
Verdict: Below expectations
Led by Jared Leto, the sequel leaned heavily on visual spectacle and nostalgia. Limited character depth and a familiar storyline contributed to a global gross of $142 million against a reported budget of $180 to $220 million.
Bollywood
Sikandar
Verdict: Flop
Positioned as a major Eid release starring Salman Khan, the film suffered from predictable storytelling and poor word of mouth. It earned approximately ₹176.18 crore worldwide against a ₹180 crore budget.
War 2
Verdict: Underperformer
Featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, the sequel carried a massive ₹400 crore budget. Worldwide earnings of ₹360 to ₹400 crore failed to match expectations or recapture the impact of the original film.
Emergency
Verdict: Below expectations
The politically themed drama led by Kangana Ranaut was made on a ₹50 to ₹60 crore budget. With global earnings of around ₹22 to ₹23 crore, the film struggled to engage audiences.
Baaghi 4
Verdict: Flop
Tiger Shroff returned for the fourth instalment of the action franchise, but repetitive themes and franchise fatigue took their toll. The film earned about ₹77 crore worldwide against an ₹80 crore budget.
Mastiii 4
Verdict: Flop
Starring Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi and Aftab Shivdasani, the comedy failed to resonate with contemporary audiences. Made on a ₹40 crore budget, it grossed roughly ₹19 crore worldwide.
For viewers in Bangladesh and across South Asia, these releases reinforced a familiar lesson. Hype and star power may attract initial attention, but emotional authenticity, strong storytelling and cultural relevance ultimately determine a film’s lasting impact. The cinematic disappointments of 2025 underlined that spectacle alone is no longer enough.
