Worst Bollywood movie of this year? The competition was surprisingly close. On one side, we had Baaghi 4, where Tiger Shroff continued his gravity-defying kicks and gym-commercial expressions. On the other, Rajkummar Rao’s Maalik, a film that promised intensity but delivered predictability. And while it’s rare to admit a Tiger Shroff film is better than a Rajkummar Rao one, 2025 gave us that shocking reality. Yes, the title of Worst Bollywood Movie of the Year 2025 goes to Maalik.
Maalik: The Basics
- Title: Maalik
- Release Date: 11 July 2025 (Theatrical)
- OTT Release: 5 September 2025 on Amazon Prime Video (available on rent, UHD)
- Director: Pulkit
- Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Manushi Chhillar, Saurabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire, Rajendra Gupta, Anshumaan Pushkar, and others
- Budget: ₹54–55 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹25–26 crore
On paper, Maalik looked like a gritty gangster drama. A small-town man rising to power, layered politics, and a lead actor like Rajkummar Rao who can carry even average scripts. But what audiences got felt like watching a dish that looked delicious but tasted bland—style without substance.
What Went Wrong?
1. Storyline That Couldn’t Surprise a Child
The gangster-rising-to-power formula has been done countless times. In Maalik, there was nothing new. From the first act to the climax, every twist was visible from a mile away. If you’ve ever played a guessing game in films, Maalik would make you feel like a genius.
2. Emotion Without Emotion
Rajkummar Rao gave his hundred percent, but even his brilliance couldn’t save weak character arcs. The audience was supposed to feel his rage, loss, and ambition, but most people were instead scrolling through their phones waiting for the end credits.
3. Expectations Gone Wrong
With Baaghi 4, expectations were already low—loud action, zero story. With Maalik, expectations were high, and that’s exactly why it hurt more when the film underdelivered. Watching Rajkummar Rao stuck in clichés felt like watching Virat Kohli batting in a gully cricket match—it just didn’t fit.
4. The Box Office Verdict
Spending ₹55 crore to earn only half back is a cinematic equivalent of burning money. The flop tag was inevitable. Even the OTT release on Prime Video failed to revive interest. Worse, it required people to rent the film instead of streaming freely, which became an inside joke online—“Why pay rent to watch boredom?”
Baaghi 4: The Runner-Up Disaster
To give credit where due, Baaghi 4 was bad too. Tiger Shroff’s slow-motion jumps felt longer than some people’s careers. Emotional scenes looked like outtakes from a fitness ad. The second half dragged like a Monday morning meeting.
But here’s the difference: Baaghi 4 was “bad but watchable.” People still liked, cheered, or at least enjoyed the nonsense action. Maalik was “bad and boring”—the deadlier combination.
Audience & Funny Reactions
Online audiences weren’t kind either. Some of the funniest takes included:
- “Rajkummar Rao looked like he was auditioning for a better movie while trapped in this one.”
- “The popcorn had more spice than the story.”
- “Not a remake, but it felt like I’ve already seen this film twenty times.”
When snacks become the highlight of the cinema hall, you know the movie is doomed.
Why Maalik Wins the “Worst” Tag
- It had the cast, budget, and expectations, yet failed spectacularly.
- It wasn’t fun-bad; it was plain dull.
- Rajkummar Rao gave it his best, but the script betrayed him.
- Box office numbers screamed rejection.
- OTT release only highlighted how forgettable it was.
Final Verdict
So, the Worst Movie of 2025 is undoubtedly Maalik. It had everything going for it on paper, but execution turned it into a cliché-ridden slog. Rajkummar Rao remains a powerhouse actor, but even he couldn’t save a film this ordinary.
If you’re curious to watch it on Prime Video—don’t say you weren’t warned. Honestly, you’d have a better time re-watching Baaghi 4 just for a few unintentional laughs. At least that one knows it’s ridiculous.