Top 20 Highest Grossing Bollywood Movies of All Time (Updated 2025)

Bollywood isn’t just a film industry, it’s a feeling for people. From intimate family dramas to spectacle-packed blockbusters, Indian cinema continues to grow as a global entertainment hub. In 2025, the box office scenario for Bollywood movies looks different: new franchises, pan-Indian films, and some surprising films have transcended the boundaries of “big hits.” 

This list of the top 20 highest grossing Bollywood films of all time, along with the latest worldwide earnings, updated in 2025, offers IMDb context and brief commentary on why each film resonated with audiences. Whether you’re looking at this post for the statistics or the stories behind them, this article will help you understand which films truly captured the public’s attention and why.

The Evolution of Bollywood’s Box Office Success

There was a time when even a movie earning ₹50 crore was cause for celebration across the country. However, over the past decade, the revenue potential of Bollywood films has increased significantly. Bigger budgets, better international distribution, and the growing trend of multilingual releases have given Indian films global recognition. 

Films that previously enjoyed regional or national success are now achieving significant global success, with Bollywood films sometimes even surpassing Hollywood films in some regions. This shift has two direct effects first, box office achievements that were once rare have become commonplace. Billion-rupee clubs are now flourishing within Bollywood. Second, the types of films that achieve success have diversified. 

Family dramas and star-studded films are no longer the norm; filmmakers can experiment with genre, cast pan-Indian actors, and use high-quality dubbing/localization to achieve blockbuster success. The 2025 list reflects this shift: while legacy stars still matter, content, distribution strategies, and global appeal are increasingly determining who tops the charts.

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Factors Behind Bollywood’s Massive Box Office Growth

Why this sudden surge in Bollywood movies? There are some clear forces at play:

• Pan-India & Multilingual Releases: Unlike in the past, Bollywood films are now released simultaneously in multiple languages ​​with high-quality dubbing, allowing a Telugu, Tamil or Hindi film to perform strongly in India and abroad.
• Global Distribution Networks: Better expertise, more screens and targeted marketing with overseas distributors have opened up new sources of revenue, especially in the UK, North America and some of the ideologies of South East Asia.
• OTT & Pre-Release Buzz: Streaming extends a film’s life through pre-release marketing, digital rights marketing, and post-theater viewership, allowing titles to remain in the cultural conversation.
• Star Power + Franchises: While the subject matter of a movie also matters, big names and recognizable franchises tend to attract more audiences. A bankable star or a sequel can impact margins and lead to a record opening.
• Higher Production Values & Visual Spectacle: Audiences today expect immersive visuals and scale. Producers are investing in VFX, global crews, and international locations, and these investments often pay off.
• Aggressive Marketing & Partnerships: From brand tie-ups to influencer campaigns, promotional strategies are more sophisticated and cater to a wider, younger audience.

Top 20 Highest Grossing Bollywood Movies of All Time List

1. Dangal

• IMDb: 8.3
• Collection: ₹2,024 Crore
• Cast: Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra
• Director: Nitesh Tiwari

No Bollywood film has ever matched the global success of Dangal. A powerful father-daughter story grounded in true emotions, it became a worldwide sensation, especially in China, and established Aamir Khan as India’s global superstar.

2. RRR (Hindi)

• IMDb: 8.0
• Collection: ₹1,240 Crore
• Cast: Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Alia Bhatt
• Director: S.S. Rajamouli

Rajamouli’s visual epic redefined cinematic standards. Its Hindi version alone achieved historic collections, demonstrating that a story with heart and spectacle could transcend language barriers.

3. Jawan

• IMDb: 7.0
• Collection: ₹1,160 Crore
• Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi
• Director: Atlee

Jawaan wasn’t just a film. Featuring Shah Rukh Khan at his most impressive, it packed mass appeal, emotional poignancy, and social relevance into one explosive package.

4. Pathaan

• IMDb: 6.9
• Collection: ₹1,055 Crore
• Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham
• Director: Siddharth Anand

The biggest comeback of the decade. Pathan revitalized Bollywood’s box office after the pandemic, marking Shah Rukh Khan’s grand comeback and paving the way for a new spy universe.

5. Animal

• IMDb: 6.5
• Collection: ₹900 Crore
• Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor
• Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Raw, violent, and emotionally intense, Animal divided critics but united audiences. Ranbir’s fiery character and its unforgettable father-son plot made it one of the biggest global hits of 2023.

6. Stree 2

• IMDb: 6.9
• Collection: ₹875 Crore
• Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi
• Director: Amar Kaushik

Smart, scary and full of laughs, Stree 2 continues the legacy of its predecessor by proving that new ideas can still deliver blockbuster success.

7. Bajrangi Bhaijaan

• IMDb: 8.1
• Collection: ₹918 Crore
• Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Harshaali Malhotra
• Director: Kabir Khan

Few films combine emotion and patriotism like Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Its heartwarming tale of love and humanity has transformed it into a cultural phenomenon beyond borders.

8. PK

• IMDb: 8.1
• Collection: ₹792 Crore
• Cast: Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma
• Director: Rajkumar Hirani

A bold satire wrapped in humor, PK challenged conventions and became a massive hit worldwide. Its success proved that meaningful cinema could also be highly commercial.

9. Chhaava

• IMDb: 7.3
• Collection: ₹800+ Crore (est.)
• Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna
• Director: Laxman Utekar

“Chhaava” made 2025 a landmark year for Bollywood. Based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, this film, with its patriotic grandeur and emotional intensity, was a resounding box office success.

10. Gadar 2

• IMDb: 5.8
• Collection: ₹686 Crore
• Cast: Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel
• Director: Anil Sharma

Two decades after the original, Gadar 2 roared back louder than ever. The movie, which brought back nostalgia, drew back single-screen audiences in droves and rekindled India’s love for old-school patriotism.

11. Sultan

• IMDb: 7.0
• Collection: ₹623 Crore
• Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma
• Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Sultan showcased Salman’s talent and emotional versatility, blending wrestling and drama. Its story deeply resonated with audiences across all walks of life.

12. Sanju

• IMDb: 7.6
• Collection: ₹586 Crore
• Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Paresh Rawal
• Director: Rajkumar Hirani

A sensational biopic that blurred the line between reel and real. Sanju gave Ranbir Kapoor one of the biggest hits of his career and dominated the box office in 2018. The film is a biopic of Sanjay Dutt, telling his life story.

13. Tiger Zinda Hai

• IMDb: 6.0
• Collection: ₹565 Crore
• Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif
• Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Packed with action and massive set pieces, Tiger Zinda Hai expanded Bollywood’s cinematic ambitions, while also captivating audiences with its energy and chemistry.

14. Saiyaara

• IMDb: 6.3
• Collection: ₹570+ Crore (est.)
• Cast: Aneet Padda, Ahaan Pandey
• Director: Mohit Suri

15. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi)

• IMDb: 8.2
• Collection: ₹511 Crore (Hindi version)
• Cast: Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Rana Daggubati
• Director: S.S. Rajamouli

The Baahubali franchise was a cinematic revolution. The Hindi dubbed version alone broke records and set Baahubali 2 as a benchmark in terms of visual storytelling and grandeur.

16. War

• IMDb: 6.5
• collection: ₹475 Crore
• Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff
• Director: Siddharth Anand

Stylish, fast-paced, and thrilling, War gave Bollywood one of the best action films ever. Hrithik and Tiger’s chemistry was unmatched, both in terms of fighting and in terms of fan following.

17. Tiger 3

• IMDb: 6.1
• Collection: ₹465 Crore
• Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi
• Director: Maneesh Sharma

Continuing YRF’s spy universe, Tiger 3 delivered stellar performances and strong box office numbers on the big screen, keeping Salman’s action legacy alive.

18. Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva

• IMDb: 5.5
• collection: ₹431 Crore
• Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan
• Director: Ayan Mukerji

It was India’s first film set in a mythological-fantasy universe. Despite mixed reviews, its scale and visual ambition made Brahmastra a landmark experiment for modern Bollywood.

19. Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

• IMDb: 7.5
• Collection: ₹378 Crore
• Cast: Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, Kiran Rathod
• Director: Om Raut

A patriotic film that was a box office smash. Tanhaji’s rich visuals and historical backdrop made it one of the biggest success stories of 2020.

20. Sitaare Zameen Par

• IMDb: 6.9
• Collection: ₹266 Crore
• Cast: Aamir Khan, child ensemble
• Director: R.S. Prasanna

Heartwarming and emotional, “Stars on the Zameen Par” connects with people through innocence and hope. The film’s poignant message has been captivating families and audiences since its release.

Bollywood’s Billion-Crore Club: Movies That Changed the Game

The billion-dollar club is a milestone that few Bollywood films reach. These films not only made money but also created a new history of success in Indian cinema. The first movie to join this club is Dangal, which broke the all-time record with a massive worldwide gross of ₹2024 crore. The movie’s story and universal appeal made it a cult hit globally, especially in China.

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion did the same. Although it was an all-India film, its Hindi version alone crossed the ₹5 billion mark, taking its total gross to ₹1,810.60 crore. This shows how regional cinema can dominate nationally.

Jawaan then brought Shah Rukh Khan back to the top of the box office. A blend of high-octane action and intense emotion, the film grossed over ₹1160 crore worldwide, proving that the King of Bollywood still reigns supreme on the big screen. All these films not only joined the multi-billion club but also inspired a new generation of blockbuster films that continue to raise the bar for success at the Bollywood box office.

New Generation Hits: Ranbir, Ranveer & Hrithik’s Big Wins

Judging by the success of Bollywood’s new generation of movies, the future of Hindi cinema is firmly in its hands. Actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, and Hrithik Roshan have delivered some of the highest-grossing Bollywood films in recent years, offering a stellar blend of style, emotion, action, romance, and star power. 

New-generation hits include Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, Ahan Pandey’s Saiyaara, and Hrithik Roshan’s War. Released in 2023, Animal was a box office smash, grossing a massive ₹900 crore. Meanwhile, Brahmastra marked Ranbir’s second commercial success, grossing approximately ₹431 crore worldwide. Although its reception was mixed, the film’s scale and VFX ambitions propelled Bollywood into the global fantasy genre.

Bollywood vs South Indian Cinema: The Pan-India Shift

Over the past few years, Bollywood has become more prominent than ever. A pan-India movement with films like RRR and Baahubali 2 earning ₹500 crore from North India alone proved this. Bollywood soon caught on to this wave. Bollywood soon followed this wave. Films like KGF: Ch and Pu showed that regional films like Brahmastra, Jawan, and Chhaava. Today, the “Bollywood vs South” debate has turned into a Boll era. The success of multilingual storytelling.

What Makes a Movie a Global Hit in 2025?

In 2025, a film can become a global hit only if it combines emotion, scale, and accessibility.

Films like Dangal and RRR have proven that emotional and grounded stories transcend boundaries. The high-quality visuals and world-class action showcased in Jawaan and Brahmastra appeal to global audiences.

With the growing global reach of OTT platforms, regional films are now also gaining international recognition. Authentic storytelling and cinematic scale are the real keys to global success today.

Conclusion

Bollywood is no longer just India’s pride, but has become a global force in the world of cinema. From record-breaking hits like “Chava” and “Jawan” to evergreen blockbusters like “Dangal” and “Baahubali 2,” Indian films are now gaining worldwide recognition.

As storytelling evolves and new stars emerge, Bollywood’s future is becoming brighter, bolder, and more international than ever before. The world is not only watching, but also celebrating Indian cinema.