For Bollywood, January has always been a tricky month. Often referred to as the “January curse,” the phenomenon has seen underwhelming performances by films released in the first week of the year. Despite a handful of exceptions like Guru (2007), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), and Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020), the curse continues to loom large over Bollywood’s box office. 2025 was no exception, with two highly anticipated films—Sonu Sood’s Fateh and Ram Charan’s Game Changer—failing to meet expectations despite their hype.
Talking about the fate of Fateh and Game Changer, Trade Expert Komal Nahata says, “Both the films have failed. Fateh was an outright bad film, and Game Changer was reasonably good, but when you make such a big film, there needs to be awareness about it . The audience is not aware that a film like this is being released. Marco was in 100 films, which worked because of word of mouth, but it was a small film, so they could afford it. However, for such big films, you can’t wait for the mouth of publicity to kick in.”
“There are many superstitions surrounding this, and because films don’t perform well on certain dates, good films are often avoided for release during that time. However, if the content of a film is poor, it won’t succeed regardless of the release date. The cause and effect are getting confused here—good films aren’t being released, and as a result, those dates gain a reputation for failure,” he added.
A Tale of Two Films: “Game Changer” and “Fateh”
The stakes were high for both Fateh and Game Changer. Fateh, a mid-budget action thriller featuring Sonu Sood in the lead. Meanwhile, Game Changer, helmed by S. Shankar and starring Ram Charan, was a massive production with a staggering ₹300 crore budget. It promised to be a pan-India spectacle, blending Shankar’s larger-than-life storytelling with Ram Charan’s immense star power.
Yet, despite the anticipation, neither film managed to break free from the clutches of the January jinx.
Fateh: A Small Spark but No Fire
Released on January 10, 2025, Sonu Sood’s Fateh opened to a tepid response at the box office. The film managed to collect only ₹6.60 crores over its first three days, a disappointing figure given the promotional efforts and the actor’s reputation as a real-life hero for his philanthropic endeavours during the pandemic.
While the action of the film and Sonu Sood’s work as a filmmaker were appreciated, the storyline didn’t connect with the audience, leading to its ultimate downfall.
“Game Changer”: A High-Stakes Gamble Gone Awry
Game Changer was its most high-profile victim if Fateh was a minor casualty of the January curse. Released on January 10, 2025, the film carried massive expectations. As a pan-India project starring Ram Charan, fresh off his global success with RRR, and directed by the legendary S. Shankar, Game Changer was expected to be a box office juggernaut.
However, despite opening to ₹89 crore in its first three days—a figure that might seem impressive at first glance—the film’s massive ₹300 crore budget painted a bleaker picture. With such high stakes, Game Changer needed to sustain momentum over several weeks to break even, let alone turn a profit. Unfortunately, mixed reviews and lacklustre word of mouth severely hampered its chances.
What Went Wrong?
For Game Changer, the reasons for its underperformance were multifaceted:
High Expectations: Following the roaring success of RRR, Ram Charan fans expected Game Changer to deliver on a similar scale. However, the film’s narrative and execution fell short of lofty standards.
Mixed Reviews: Critics were divided on the film’s merits. While some appreciated Shankar’s ambitious vision, others criticized the plot, uneven pacing, and underwhelming CGI.
Budget vs. Returns: With a production cost of ₹300 crore, Game Changer faced immense pressure to deliver consistent box office numbers. The ₹89 crore opening weekend fell far short of expectations, and the film struggled to attract repeat audiences.
The January Curse: Why Does It Persist?
The failure of Fateh and Game Changer highlights the persistent challenges of releasing films in January. Trade expert Taran Adarsh offers insights as to why possibly the trend continues.
Post-Holiday Blues: Audiences are often recovering from heavy December spending, leaving less disposable income for entertainment in January.
Busy Schedules: The start of the new year means people are returning to work or school, leaving them with little time for leisure activities like movie-going.
Perceived Risk: The historical underperformance of January releases makes filmmakers hesitant to launch high-profile projects this month.
Veteran trade expert Taran Adarsh also notes that while the curse isn’t rooted in any scientific logic, it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. “If a strong product like Pushpa 2 were released in January, it would still perform well,” he says, suggesting that quality and content ultimately determine a film’s success.
The contrasting fates of Fateh and Game Changer serve as a cautionary tale for filmmakers. While January offers a relatively uncluttered release window, it has inherent risks. The month’s historical baggage and audience behaviour make it a challenging period to achieve box office success.
That said, breaking the January curse isn’t impossible. Films like Uri and Tanhaji have demonstrated that with the right mix of content, timing, and marketing, even January releases can become blockbusters. However, these remain exceptions rather than the rule.
