Star Cineplex, a leading choice for cinema enthusiasts with refined tastes, has maintained its position as a crowd favourite. While Hollywood films dominated the scene a few years ago, the rising wave of Bangladeshi cinema has gradually shifted the spotlight.

Although moviegoers once eagerly anticipated Hollywood releases, the past three years have witnessed a noticeable surge in interest for Bangladeshi films. This shift has continued to dominate the landscape throughout 2024.

For Bangladeshi films, the industry has seen unprecedented trends; advance ticket bookings before release, record-breaking opening weekends, maximum showtimes, and even ticket shortages. 

Here's a quick look at the top 10 Bangladeshi films that attracted the most viewers at the country's most attended cinema theatre throughout the year.

Star Cineplex's Marketing Manager Mesbah Uddin Ahmed talked about the 10 films that performed best at the Cineplex.

Topping the list is "Toofan". Directed by Raihan Rafi, this film not only became the most successful of the year but also earned the title of the highest-grossing single film in the past 20 years.

Following "Toofan", the most-watched Bangladeshi films of the year include "Rajkumar", "Mona-Jin 2", "Deyaler Desh", "Kajal Rekha", "Omar", "Dard", "840", "Priyo Maloti", and "36-24-36".

Meanwhile, Star Cineplex has also released a list of the top 10 highest-grossing films combining Hollywood, Bollywood, and Dhallywood. At the top of the list is again Raihan Rafi's "Toofan", starring Shakib Khan. 

Following it are "Deadpool and Wolverine", "Dunki", "Godzilla x Kong", "Crew", "Moana 2", "Venom: The Last Dance", "Kung Fu Panda 4", "Rajkumar", and "Dard".

This means that among the top 10 films released at Star Cineplex in 2024, four are from Hollywood, three from Bollywood, and the remaining three from Dhallywood. Notably, all three Dhallywood films feature Shakib Khan.

Regarding this, Mesbah commented, "This year hasn't been particularly great for Cineplex. Overall, 'Toofan' was the only film that truly performed exceptionally well, breaking records and setting a new milestone in Cineplex's 20-year history. Even Bollywood films flopped, and Hollywood didn't do exceptionally well either, with most films performing averagely. The country's current situation isn't stable, which has led to a decrease in moviegoers."

Read more

The Rising Stars of 2024: Promising talent on the ascent

Emphasising the need for films similar to "Toofan", the official stated, "The situation is steadily improving. As conditions continue to get better, audiences will return to the theaters. Films like 'Toofan' are exactly what we need right now. I believe such productions can restore the grandeur of the Cineplex."