5 highest-grossing Indian movies of 2023
With an incredible display of cinematic talent, 2023 has proven to be a blockbuster for the Indian film industry. This year, Bollywood brought out a diverse range of films that captivated audiences and dominated the global box office. Here are the top 5 Indian movies with the highest box office revenue in 2023.
1. Jawan
Shah Rukh Khan continued to reign at the box office with Jawan. The film was his second release after Pathaan, which received great acclaim. The film, directed by Atlee in his debut film, became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2023. With an impressive 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Jawan has earned an estimated 1,144.23 million rupees, or US$140 million, worldwide. It exceeded the budget of 300 million rupees or 38 million US dollars.
Jawan delves into the life of Azad, a jailer with a mysterious past. His wife, Narmada, a National Guardsman, is tasked with tracking down her own husband without her knowledge.
2. Leo
Leo, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has refused to slow down at the box office. This action-packed thriller starring Thalapathy Vijay, Trishakrishnan and Sanjay Dutt has entered its third week with great success.
‘Leo’ is Kanagaraj’s third film in the film world. It exceeded expectations, grossing a whopping 2.5 billion rupees (approx. 3 million USD) on its 19th day of release, and the entire collection is expected to gross a whopping 39 million USD.
3. Pattern
Pathan set the stage for Indian cinema in 2023 and became a global success. A heist film directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Yash Raj Films, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. It grossed $199 million, securing the third place among the highest-grossing films of the year.
The film depicts the life of an exiled RAW agent who works with ISI agents to stop a deadly virus attack on India. Thus, this marked the first crossover in the YRF spy universe where Salman Khan’s Tiger makes a cameo appearance.
4. Gadar 2
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, the much-awaited sequel to the 2001 hit, hit theaters on August 11, 2023. Directed and produced by Anil Sharma, Gadar 2 also stars Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma. The film grossed over $87 million worldwide against a modest production budget of $7.5 million.
The film, set during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, was the third-highest-grossing Indian film of 2023 and the seventh-highest-grossing Hindi film of all time.
5. Rocky Orr Rani Ki Prem Kahani
Karan Johar’s directorial comeback with ‘Rocky Our Rani Ki Prem Kahaani’ charmed the audience with its romantic comedy and family drama. The film, starring veteran actors Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, will be released on July 28, 2023. The film grossed over $44 million worldwide.
Produced under Dharma Productions and Viacom18 Studios, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ has definitely made it to the list of highest-grossing Indian films of the year and is the 4th highest-grossing Hindi film. It has the highest box office revenue.
As the year draws to a close, these film wins confirm Bollywood’s global influence and prove the industry’s ability to create compelling stories that resonate with audiences around the world.
