As the first half of 2025 concludes, box office analysts have released their mid-year verdict — and the biggest surprise isn’t a mega-budget epic, but a modest Tamil comedy that quietly outperformed the competition in the only metric that truly matters: profit.
Tourist Family, directed by debutant Abishan Jeevinth, hit screens on April 29 with minimal hype and no major stars.
Produced on a lean â¹7 crore budget, the slice-of-life comedy-drama features M Sasikumar, Simran, Mithun Jai Sankar, and Kamalesh Jagan as an everyday family embarking on a hilariously chaotic holiday.
What began as a limited release in Tamil Nadu turned into a nationwide sensation, driven purely by glowing reviews and strong word of mouth. Viewers praised its heartfelt humor and relatable storytelling.
A Box Office Cinderella Story
The numbers are staggering. Tourist Family grossed â¹23 crore in its opening week, followed by â¹29 crore in the second — remarkable growth for a film without star power.
By the end of its five-week theatrical run, it had earned â¹90 crore globally (â¹62 crore in India), translating to a stunning 1,200% return on investment.
How the Giants Stack Up
In comparison, Chhaava — the year’s biggest box office grosser so far — raked in â¹808 crore worldwide. Yet its â¹90 crore budget means an 800% return, impressive but still eclipsed by Tourist Family's 12x gains.
Big-budget Bollywood entries have fared less favorably in terms of profit. Housefull 5, despite earning â¹300 crore, has struggled to break even due to enormous VFX and marketing costs.
Salman Khan’s Sikandar faced similar issues, with high production expenses eroding its earnings.
Among mid-tier performers, Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par emerged as a success story, delivering a 300% profit from â¹260 crore worldwide earnings on a â¹65 crore budget. Still, its profitability pales in comparison to Tourist Family.
Southern Cinema Leads the Profit Game
Southern industries delivered several high-margin hits. Tamil romcom Dragon saw a threefold return, while Malayalam thriller Thudarum achieved a remarkable 720% profit.
In Telugu, holiday blockbuster Sankranthiki Vasthunam tripled its â¹60 crore budget with strong seasonal returns.
Yet none rivaled the financial triumph of Tourist Family. Industry insiders credit its success to tight budgeting, strategic release timing, and universally resonant storytelling that appealed to family audiences.
It’s proof that star power and flashy effects aren’t prerequisites for box office gold.
With major releases like War 2 and Coolie on the horizon, the box office rankings may shift again in the latter half of the year.
But for now, a small Tamil comedy stands tall — reminding the industry that in Indian cinema, David can still defeat Goliath.