The BIGGEST December Releases

Though Aamir Khan is known to release his big movies on Christmas and set huge box office records, other superstars have also scored regularly around this festive season.

But it seems Ranveer Singh is slowly taking over this time as his own, as he has had two big releases already, and getting ready for his third, '83, this year.

Joginder Tuteja looks at December's big hits in the last decade.

 

Good Newwz, 2019
Box office collection: Rs 205.14 crore

While 2020 was a barren season for Bollywood, 2019 had ended on a high note with Akshay Kumar giving us Good Newwz.

Akshay was on a roll that year, with four major hits -- Kesari, Mission Mangal, Housefull 4 ...

With Kareena Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani as the other star attractions of Good Newwz, this Karan Johar production scored a double century at the box office.

 

Simmba, 2018
Box office collection: Rs 240.31 crore

Even in 2018, it was a Karan Johar production that created a storm at the box office.

In fact, besides the Khans, Ranveer Singh's Simmba is the biggest December blockbuster till date.

Director Rohit Shetty delivered a solid action entertainer which not only opened well but also sustained wonderfully.

 

Tiger Zinda Hai, 2017
Box office collection: Rs 339.25 crore

One of the rare instances of a film turning out to be even better than its predecessor, Tiger Zinda Hai was a worthy successor to Ek Tha Tiger and did about 50 per cent better business than that.

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif returned in this Ali Abbas Zafar directed film, which is also the biggest blockbuster ever for Producer Yash Raj Films.

Tiger 3 is currently being shot and one expects the film to make it to theatres on Christmas 2022.

 

Dangal, 2016
Box office collection: Rs 387.38 crore

The biggest Bollywood grosser ever, Dangal set a huge record when it released.

Aamir Khan movies do really well when they release on Christmas, and it could have happened again with Laal Singh Chaddha, which was originally slated for a Christmas 2020 release. It will now release in April.

As for this Nitesh Tiwari directed film, it also gave Bollywood two new leading ladies, Fatima Sana Sheikh and Sanya Malhotra.

 

Bajirao Mastani, 2015
Box office collection: Rs 188 crore

When Bajirao Mastani arrived with Dilwale, most predicted that the Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer would take a big lead.

The opening of the Rohit Shetty directed film was definitely better, but as days progressed, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's historical took off.

Buoyed by performances from Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, Bajirao Mastani emerged a much bigger success and earned the verdict of being a superhit.

PK, 2014
Box office collection: Rs 340.80 crore

Yet another Christmas, yet another biggie by Aamir Khan. When he reunited with Raj Kumar Hirani after 3 Idiots, expectations were mammoth.

This time around, the opening was bigger even though the end result wasn't as extraordinary as during their earlier collaboration.

The film did huge business and if 3 Idiots had just about stepped into the Rs 200 Crore Club, PK took a step further into the Rs 300 Crore Club to emerge as an all time blockbuster.

 

Dhoom: 3, 2013
Box office collection: Rs 284 crore

Before Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Director Vijay Krishna Acharya made a fiasco for Yash Raj Films in the form of Thugs of Hindostan, they had teamed up for Dhoom: 3.

The film saw mixed reviews, but none of that mattered as it becamse a major blockbuster at the box office.

With Aamir Khan in a double role, the action entertainer did more than three times the business of Dhoom: 2 and made sure that the franchise was here to stay.

 

Dabangg 2, 2012
Box office collection: Rs 156.50 crore

Dabangg 3 left many disappointed, and rightly so, since the narrative was half as engaging as the earlier two installments.

Dabangg 2 was considered to be even better than Dabangg by some, and as a result, did better business in the final run.

Directed by Arbaaz Khan, this Salman Khan starrer with Sonakshi Sinha as the leading lady carried on the ethos of the original and made sure that audiences were entertained by Chulbul Pandey's antics.

 

Don 2, 2011
Box office collection: Rs 107 crore

It has been a decade since Shah Rukh Khan scored a hit in December, and one waits for him to score again soon.

Don 2 came after Ra. One and King Khan had scored two back-to-back centuries here.

The Farhan Akhtar directed film was a clean hit at the box office and since then, there has been a huge demand for Don 3.

 

Tees Maar Khan, 2010
Box office collection: Rs 68 crore

After Main Hoon Naa and Om Shanti Om, Farah Khan stepped into the quirky route with Akshay Kumar and delivered Tees Maar Khan.

Though the film was trolled, it earned some profits for its makers.

Vishal-Shekhar's song Chikni Chameli for Katrina Kaif emerged a rage and is popular till date.