Housefull 5 Isn’t the First to Feature Multiple Endings: 4 Other Films That Did It Before

Housefull 5 releases with multiple endings, but it's not the first. Learn about Aankhen, Clue, and other films that used different endings in theatres before Sajid Nadiadwala's latest comedy.
  • Amit Diwan
  • Editorial
  • Updated - 2025-06-03, 18:48 IST
multiple endings movies

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala brings a bold idea to Hindi cinema with ‘Housefull 5’. The film releases as two separate movies - ‘Housefull 5A’ and ‘Housefull 5B’, each one with a different killer in the climax. This means audiences get two endings, two murderers, and one wild comedy experience.

‘The Housefull’ series has always been about chaos and comedy. Now, ‘Housefull 5’ takes this concept further by creating what Nadiadwala calls ‘two completely different films’ under one franchise name.

The Creative Strategy Behind Two Versions

Nadiadwala came up with this idea to encourage people to watch the movie more than once. According to sources close to the production, this creative approach also works as a smart marketing move. Fans will need to see both movies to get the complete ‘Housefull 5’ experience.

Major ticket booking platforms, like BookMyShow, will list both versions with different titles. This helps audiences choose which version they want to watch, though some confusion might add to the fun of picking between the two endings.

Producer's Bold Claims About Film History

At the 'Housefull 5' trailer launch, Sajid Nadiadwala made big claims about his movie. He said the Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh film breaks new ground not just in Indian cinema but in world cinema.

"I have been thinking about this for the last 30 years, that if I make a thriller, what would be the X factor? How would people leave the theatre? So I have written a story wherein every theatre will have a different killer. If you watch Housefull 5 in Gaiety, you will see one killer, and in Galaxy, you'll see another killer. In PVR Screen 4, you'll have one killer and in Screen 5 another killer," Nadiadwala explained.

He then claimed, "And this is happening for the first time in the world." The producer repeated that his film would have two different endings, with two different killers.

Nadiadwala's claim about being first in the world is not true. This is not even the first time such a thing has happened in Hindi cinema.

Several films have used multiple endings in theatres before 'Housefull 5'. These movies proved that different endings can work as both creative storytelling and marketing tools.

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Movies With Different Endings

Aankhen

Amitabh Bachchan's Aankhen from 2002 already used this idea. The movie starred Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen, Arjun Rampal, and Paresh Rawal alongside the legendary actor.

Aankhen was released with two different endings, one version played in India while another played overseas. The overseas ending showed Amitabh Bachchan's character returning, and this version later became the official ending. The film became a surprise hit, and audiences still wait for its sequel.

Clue

Clue (1985) stands out as probably the first film in history to be released in theatres with three different endings. This Hollywood black comedy mystery thriller was based on the popular board game of the same name. The story takes place inside a house with six suspects and a mysterious murder. Each of the three endings reveals a different killer, giving audiences completely different solutions to the same mystery.

Harikrishnans

Harikrishnans (1998) brought this concept to Malayalam cinema in an interesting way. The film starred Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Juhi Chawla, and it featured two different endings in different theatres. One ending showed Juhi Chawla's character choosing Mammootty, while the other ending had her picking Mohanlal. The filmmakers did this to avoid upsetting fans of either Malayalam superstar.

The movie had an even more interesting twist planned. There was supposed to be a third ending where Shah Rukh Khan would appear in a cameo role, and Juhi's character would end up with him instead. Fazil directed this film, and he is the father of the popular actor Fahadh Faazil.

Unfriended: Dark Web

‘Unfriended: Dark Web’ (2018) features how modern filmmakers still use this technique. This Stephen Susco film is a screenlife horror-thriller that played two different endings in different theatres. The movie also had a third ending, to be released only on the DVDs, giving home viewers an extra surprise.

Why Multiple Endings Work for Filmmakers

These examples show that multiple endings serve different purposes for different films. Some use them to avoid disappointing fan groups, like ‘Harikrishnans’ did with its two leading men. Others use them to create mystery and encourage repeat viewing, as ‘Clue’ and now ‘Housefull 5’ attempt to do.

The technique also creates talking points among audiences. People discuss which ending they saw and compare their experience with friends who might have seen a different version. This word-of-mouth discussion can help a film's popularity grow.

The success or failure of Housefull 5's dual-ending experiment will show whether modern audiences embrace this old technique in new packaging. Either way, the film joins a small but interesting group of movies that dared to give audiences more than one way to end their story.

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