Salman Khan's Biggest Flop Movies: Surprising Box Office Failures

Kenji Nakamura

5 min read

Post on May 13, 2025

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Tubelight (2017): A Box Office Bomb Despite Star Power

Tubelight, released in 2017, stands as one of Salman Khan's most significant box office disappointments. Despite the star power and pre-release hype, the film failed to ignite the box office as expected.

Factors Contributing to Tubelight's Failure:

• Unconventional storyline deviating from typical Salman Khan films: Tubelight departed from Salman Khan's usual action-packed, larger-than-life roles. Its unconventional storyline, focusing on a heartwarming tale of brotherhood, proved to be a significant departure from audience expectations. This unexpected narrative shift alienated a considerable segment of his core fanbase who were looking for his trademark style.

• Weak narrative and pacing issues: The film suffered from a weak narrative and pacing issues, leading to a sluggish and often disengaging viewing experience. Many critics and viewers felt the plot was slow-moving and lacked the punch and excitement expected from a Salman Khan movie.

• Negative critical reception impacting audience interest: Tubelight received largely negative reviews from critics, which significantly impacted audience interest. Negative word-of-mouth played a crucial role in the film's box office underperformance.

• Overshadowed by other releases during the same period: The film's release coincided with other big-budget releases, further impacting its performance. The competition for audience attention and screen time contributed to its relatively low box office earnings.

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Bullet Points:

• High expectations leading to significant disappointment.
• Poor marketing strategy that failed to effectively communicate the film's unique narrative to the audience.
• Competition from other big-budget releases like Baahubali 2, which dominated the box office.

Jai Ho (2014): A Remake That Didn't Resonate

Jai Ho, a remake of a Telugu film, also failed to replicate the success of its original. While Salman Khan's presence was expected to guarantee a hit, the film's performance fell short of expectations.

Analyzing Jai Ho's Box Office Performance:

• Remake of a Telugu film, failing to capture the same magic: The remake failed to capture the magic and emotional resonance of the original Telugu film. Adaptations often face this challenge, particularly when cultural nuances are not effectively translated.

• Lack of originality and a predictable storyline: The storyline lacked originality and felt predictable, failing to engage viewers effectively. Many found the narrative formulaic and lacking in surprises or twists.

• Mixed reviews from critics and audiences: The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, hindering its box office prospects. A lack of critical acclaim and lukewarm audience response created a negative snowball effect.

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Bullet Points:

• Comparison with the original film highlighted its shortcomings in terms of pacing, character development, and emotional impact.
• Audience fatigue with similar themes and storylines contributed to the film’s underperformance.
• An underwhelming promotion and marketing campaign failed to generate sufficient buzz.

Judwaa 2 (2017): A Sequel That Fell Short of Expectations

While Judwaa 2 (2017) was commercially more successful than Tubelight and Jai Ho, it still underperformed compared to Salman Khan's usual box office numbers. It highlights the complexities of sequel filmmaking and the difficulty of surpassing the original's success.

Why Judwaa 2 Couldn't Match the Original's Success:

• While commercially successful compared to other entries on this list, it still underperformed relative to Salman's usual box office numbers: Although it made a decent profit, it failed to reach the blockbuster status expected given Salman Khan's star power and the popularity of the original Judwaa.

• Nostalgia factor not enough to drive box office numbers to the levels expected: The nostalgia factor, a key element in many successful sequels, wasn't enough to catapult Judwaa 2 to the heights anticipated.

• Competition from other releases in a crowded season: The release date unfortunately clashed with several other big Bollywood releases, splitting the audience attention and resulting in less overall revenue.

• Keywords: Judwaa 2, Salman Khan movie, box office analysis, sequel underperformance, Bollywood film review

Bullet Points:

• High expectations stemmed from the original Judwaa's popularity and comedic success, setting a high bar for the sequel.
• Direct comparison with the original film inevitably highlighted the sequel's shortcomings in terms of originality and humor.
• Analysis of the sequel’s narrative reveals a deviation from the core elements that made the original successful.

Other Notable Box Office Disappointments:

Other films like Main Pyaar Kyun Kiya and Yuvvraaj also represent notable box office disappointments in Salman Khan’s filmography, though to a lesser extent than those detailed above. These films, despite their star cast and promotional efforts, failed to resonate with audiences and critics. Their failure highlights the unpredictable nature of the Bollywood box office.

Conclusion:

This article explored some of Salman Khan's most surprising box office failures, analyzing the factors contributing to their underperformance. From creative choices to marketing strategies and intense competition, various elements played a role in these unexpected setbacks. These movies serve as reminders that even the biggest stars can’t always guarantee a hit, and that a combination of factors, including a compelling script, effective marketing, and timing are crucial for box office success in the competitive Bollywood landscape.

Call to Action: While Salman Khan remains a dominant force in Bollywood, these flops demonstrate that even the biggest stars are susceptible to box office disappointments. Explore more deep dives into Bollywood box office trends and analyze the factors that contribute to a film’s success or failure. What are your thoughts on Salman Khan's biggest flop movies? Share your opinions and your analysis of what makes a Bollywood movie successful in the comments below!