Entertainment Desk:

Dhallywood had a busy year in 2024, with steady growth and record-breaking achievements in the Bangladeshi film industry. Despite some challenges, several big films exceeded expectations, setting new records for box office sales and audience interest. As in 2023, star-led movies were at the forefront, drawing large crowds across the country. This article reviews the top-grossing Bangladeshi films of 2024 and their impact on the industry.

5 TOP-EARNING BANGLADESHI MOVIES OF 2024

TOOFAN, JUNE 17, 2024, BDT 56 CRORE

Emerged as the highest-grossing Bangladeshi movie to date, this crime thriller is directed by Raihan Rafi. This movie features an outstanding cast led by Shakib Khan, Masuma Rahman Nabila, Chanchal Chowdhury, and Mimi Chakraborty.

Produced by Alpha-i Studios Ltd. with a budget of BDT 7 crore, ‘Toofan’ exceeded expectations by earning over BDT 35 crore domestically and more than BDT 21 crore internationally. Credit for its worldwide distribution goes to Chorki, Shree Venkatesh Films, Bioscope Films, and Bongoz Films.

The thriller film marked the biggest opening weekend for a Bangladeshi film in the United States. By screening 58 shows simultaneously at Star Cineplex, the film made history and shattered long-standing records. With a first-week revenue of BDT 20 crore, it quickly became the second-highest opening for a Bangladeshi blockbuster after ‘Dorod’.

RAJKUMAR, APRIL 11, 2024, BDT 26 CRORE

Directed by Himel Ashraf, this romantic film features an on-screen pairing between Shakib Khan and Courtney Coffey. Backed by Versatile Media with a budget of BDT 6 crore, this film quickly became a sensation. It achieved a historic milestone in ticket sales, reaching an unprecedented BDT 10 lakh in bookings, which secured its place in Bangladeshi cinematic history.

The film’s massive reach was evident as it was screened in a record 125 theaters, out of 210 across the country. This feat, combined with its booking revenue of approximately 6-6.5 crores, reflects the immense demand and wide appeal of the movie. The widespread reach was facilitated by distributors Versatile Media, Bongoz Films, and Swapna Scarecrow Bangladesh.

DOROD,NOVEMBER 15, 2024, BDT 8.55 CRORE

Starring Shakib Khan alongside Sonal Chauhan, this romantic movie excels with Anonno Mamun as its director. With a budget of BDT 10 crore, it was a collaboration of production houses Action Cut Entertainment, Eskay Movies, Kibria Films, and One World Movies.

The film’s opening day broke records, achieving the highest first-day ticket sales at multiplexes across the country. On its debut, the Star Cineplex chain alone sold tickets worth BDT 30.68 lakh, a figure that further cemented the movie’s box office dominance. Distributed by Eskay Movies and Action Cut Entertainment, ‘Dorod’ quickly proved to be one of the most successful releases of the year.

DEYALER DESH,APRIL 11, 2024,BDT 2.0 CRORE

Featuring an outstanding performance from Sariful Razz alongside Shobnom Bubly, this romantic film marked the directorial debut of Mishuk Moni. Bankrolled by Metro Cinema, it had a production cost close to BDT 2 crore. While modest in its business performance, the film collected its budget respectably, affirming its place as a noteworthy entry in the year.

OMAR, APRIL 11, 2024, BDT 1.57 CRORE

Directed by Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raz, this action-packed thriller thrives with Master Communication as both the production house and distributor. Starring Sariful Razz paired with Darshana Banik, this thriller was crafted at a production cost of nearly BDT 2 crore.

Although not a major profitable phenomenon, ‘Omar’ significantly influenced Dhallywood’s storytelling and filmmaking trends.

The top-earning Dhallywood films of 2024 highlight the promising growth of Bangladeshi cinema. ‘Toofan’ and ‘Rajkumar’ set new box office records, while ‘Dorod’, ‘Deyaler Desh’, and ‘Omar’ also made significant impacts. Overall, 2024 marked key milestones, revealing the untapped potential of Bangladesh’s movie industry.