While dozens of local films are made and release each year, now fewer films are making an impact, especially during Eid.
At the start of the year, six films released for Eid-ul-Fitr, but most of them failed at the box office. Shaz Khan’s The Martial Arts barely got cinema screenings, while even stars like Javed Akhtar in Qulfi could not draw viewers.
Some films, however, successfully pulled audiences back:
Love Guru
Directed by Nadeem Baig, Love Guru was widely loved. It earned over Rs12,00,00,000 in its opening and more than Rs80,00,00,000 worldwide. The cast included Humayun Saeed, Mahira Khan, Ramsha Khan, Momina Iqbal, and Soha Ali Abro, who impressed fans with their performances.
Demak
Horror films are rare in Pakistan, but Rafeh Rashdi’s Demak, released during Eid-ul-Adha, made over Rs20,00,00,000. The story revolved around tense relations between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, with mysterious events in a house. The cast featured Faisal Qureshi, Javed Sheikh, Samina Pirzada, Bushra Ansari, Sonia Hussain, and Saman Ansari.
Nilofar
The year ended on a high note with Nilofar, still running in cinemas. Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan returned to the big screen after The Legend of Maula Jatt. Their performances moved audiences and drew fans back to theaters. However, it did not attract as much viewers as expected.
Welcome to Punjab
Shahzad Rafiq’s film didn’t achieve commercial success but won the Best Audience Award at the Baku Film Festival in Azerbaijan. The film celebrated Pakistani culture and folklore, starring Adi Khan, Zara Hayat, Sajad Hassan, Javed Sheikh, and Bushra Ansari.
Qulfi
The comedy film Qulfi had Babar Ali, Shehroz Sabzwari, Javed Sheikh, Muammar Rana, and Saeeda Imtiaz in the cast, but performances failed to impress audiences.
Kabir, Ishq Lahore, Lambi Judai, The Martial Artist, Jaji
Other films like Kabir, Ishq Lahore, Lambi Judai, The Martial Artist, and Jaji struggled to perform well at the box office, despite notable casts including Adnan Shah Tipu, Anam Tanveer, Saima Noor, and others.
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Pakistani cinema in 2025 had few hits but also several flops. Horror and strong drama films like Demak and Love Guru proved audiences still enjoy unique stories. Star power alone could not save films like Qulfi and Kabir. The year shows that quality storytelling and engaging performances are key to box office success.
