Varun Dhawan’s much-anticipated mass entertainer Baby John has been anything but the box office success it was expected to be. Despite a massive budget of ₹160 crore and widespread anticipation, the film has earned a meager ₹47 crore worldwide in its first week, a stark contrast to its lavish production costs. This dismal performance has led to the film being labeled as one of the biggest box office disasters of 2024.
A Flop from the Start
Baby John, a remake of Atlee’s hit Theri, was expected to be a game-changer for Varun Dhawan, as he sought to establish himself in the mass action genre. However, the film failed to live up to expectations, with its opening day earnings falling below ₹12 crore. The low numbers were compounded by scathing reviews and negative word-of-mouth, which led to a drastic drop in collections. By the eighth day of its release, the film had barely managed ₹35 crore in India, putting its total earnings at ₹47 crore worldwide.
With a reported ₹160 crore budget, the film’s poor performance is a significant blow. The stark reality of its failure is evident from its rapid decline in screen presence—Baby John opened in 4,300 shows nationwide, but after just eight days, this number has dwindled to a mere 1,800 shows. Industry experts are predicting that the film will likely close with a total of under ₹60 crore net, leading to a notional loss of around ₹100 crore for the makers.
Why Did ‘Baby John’ Fail?
Despite having all the ingredients for success—a popular star, a proven formula from Theri, and a strong plot—Baby John failed to connect with audiences. While the action-packed mass genre has garnered attention for stars like Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan and Salman Khan in Tiger 3, Baby John couldn’t replicate the same success. The film struggled with Varun Dhawan’s lack of screen presence for the intense action required in mass entertainers, with many critics pointing out that his persona didn’t fit the character.
The direction, under Kalees, also failed to match Atlee’s finesse, with the remake failing to add any new energy to the original. The film’s stale presentation was criticized for feeling like a spoof rather than a serious mass action film, and even the much-hyped cameo by Salman Khan did little to save the film from its downward spiral.
What Went Wrong?
While the film’s premise seemed promising—based on the popularity of Theri and the mass appeal of the action genre—it ultimately faltered because of a lack of strong execution. The film relied heavily on the formulaic approach without offering fresh or compelling storytelling. Despite the audience’s enthusiasm for mass action films, like Jawan, Pathaan, and Gadar 2, Baby John lacked the polish and presentation to match these successful blockbusters. Films like Tiger 3 and Bhaiyaa Ji also faltered in the same genre, but none suffered as severe a fate as Baby John.
The Aftermath
With Baby John failing spectacularly at the box office, it has sparked discussions about the future of mass action films in Bollywood. Filmmakers will need to reconsider how they approach the genre—merely relying on a formula will not guarantee success. The film’s failure is a harsh reminder that strong content, fresh execution, and star power are necessary ingredients for a mass entertainer to succeed. Bollywood makers will likely take a step back and re-evaluate their strategies to ensure that future films don’t meet the same fate as Baby John.
As for Varun Dhawan, while he remains a popular actor, Baby John marks a significant misstep in his career, especially given his ambitious entry into the mass action genre. How the actor and his team recover from this disaster will be crucial in shaping his future projects.
Sources By Agencies
