Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024)

Two screen legends circling each other in a haunted palace is a great pitch, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 takes most of its 158 minutes to cash it in. Kartik Aaryan plays Ruhaan, a Kolkata con man running a fake ghostbusting racket as Rooh Baba, until Meera (Triptii Dimri) and her uncle reel him in with a staged haunting of their own. They want help reclaiming the family’s royal palace in Raktghat, said to be haunted by Princess Manjulika, and the villagers decide Ruhaan is a long-lost prince reborn. Aaryan is charming, but mostly replaying his last turn in this role. The jokes lean on stereotypes, critics flagged its shaky take on Bengali culture, and the songs drag. Then Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit get their hammy face-off, and the final stretch twists hard and actually lands. It made $2.23 million in North America. A 4.1 because the climax earns a cheer the first two hours never do. $94.15 says you start calling the junk room in your house the sealed chamber, and nobody else will open it either.

What works: Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit’s over-the-top rivalry is a blast, and the twist-heavy climax is the best stretch of the film.

What doesn’t: The comedy leans on tired stereotypes, the songs drag, and Kartik Aaryan mostly repeats what he did in the last film.

Who it’s for: Fans of the franchise who want the Manjulika legend back, and anyone happy to wait out a slow build for a big finish.