Year 2019, saw some really big releases in Bollywood. And some epic flops as well. But Rs 100 crore (or more) at the box office will not guarantee you a spot on Google’s top trends. That’s a feat only a few can achieve.
Google India just released its trends list for 2019, which includes Top 10 most-searched films of the year.
But if we were to look at this year’s Top 5 movies list only, there’s a surprise there for everyone. Unlike last year’s list, which included four Hindi films and one Hollywood film in Top 5 (2.0, Baaghi 2, Race 3, Avengers: Infinity War and Tiger Zinda Hai, in descending order), this year’s list surprisingly has fewer Hindi movies. Of course, 6-down, the list more than makes up for Hindi content.
Here’s a look at who made it to the Top 10, and why:
1. Kabir Singh (June 21, 2019)
Love it or hate it, but you still got to search for it. Shahid Kapoor’s Kabir Singh, a remake of Vijay Deverakonda’s Arjun Reddy, both directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has emerged as the most-searched film of 2019. Kabir Singh, perhaps the only film in recent history, managed to divide India into two very distinct halves – one who loved the film for its love story and identified with it, and others who were left speechless by its brazen display of toxic masculinity. The debate sure worked in favor of Shahid Kapoor, for he managed to outdo Avengers: Endgame. Avengers: Endgame, guys. We rest our case.
2. Avengers: Endgame (April 26, 2019)
Strutting right behind Shahid Kapoor’s Kabir Singh is a film that represents the end of an era. Globally, Avengers: Endgame went on to beat the lifetime collection of Avatar, albeit with some help. But in India, too, it has managed to push other native Hindi releases behind to claim the second spot. That a Marvel movie has retained its spot in the Top 5, consecutively for the second year (Avengers Infinity War was on the 4th spot in 2018), goes to show just how much we love to geek out on superhero films.
3. Joker (October 2, 2019)Speaking of superhero films, a super-villain film has claimed the third position in the Top 5 list. But then, without going into the Marvel vs DC battle where no one really wins, Joker deserves it. Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker has emerged as the highest-grossing R-rated film globally. And a lot of that credit goes to the extremely problematic storyline Todd Phillips chose to tell. While we kept debating if Joker glorifies violence or just depicts chaos, the film casually crawls up to the third most-searched spot on Google India.
4. Captain Marvel (March 8, 2019)
And the Marvel vs DC battle continues, with Captain Marvel claiming the fourth most-searched spot on Google trends. Captain Marvel is the first female superhero in the Marvel cinematic universe, apart from Black Widow, who was introduced but was never given an origin story (until now, Black Widow the film will release in 2020). Brie Larson, thanks to Captain Marvel, has also emerged as the 9th most-searched actor on Google’s global trending list. Captain Marvel was also important because it came right after Avengers Infinity War, which ends with Nick Fury texting Carol Danvers (Brie Larson). This created a sense that Captain Marvel would become a gamechanger for Avengers: Endgame.
5. Super 30 (July 12, 2019)
The only other Hindi film to make it to the Top 5 spot is Hrithik Roshan’s Super 30. The film was neither a particularly high grosser, nor did it receive noteworthy critical appreciation. So the credit of Super 30 making it into Top 5 actually goes to Anand Kumar, the genius mathematician on whose life the film was based. This is why you’d see Anand Kumar become the fourth most-searched personality in Google’s India trend list. Perhaps some credit goes to Hrithik, too, and his bronzer.
6. Mission Mangal (August 13, 2019)
Akshay Kumar makes it to the sixth spot in Google’s most-searched movies list. The film, based on India’s successful Mangalyan, was the buzz of the town ever since it was announced. moreover, it was an underdog story that inspires. Released on the Independence Day weekend, Mission mangal managed to club both cinematic curiosity and pure patriotism.
7. Gully Boy (February 14, 2019)
India’s official entry to the Oscars, Gully Boy, is the seventh most-searched movie on the Google trends list. The Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt-starrer is based on the life of street rap artistes Divine and Neazy, and therefore, it is only natural that it was Gully Boy’s songs that helped the film make it to the list. Apna TIme Ayege, to be precise.
8. War (October 2, 2019)
Hrithik Roshan’s War makes it to the eighth spot. And that makes it Hrithik’s second appearance on the list. Of course, a large portion of the credit goes to the buzz around both Hrithik and Tiger Shroff’s duets and duels. We’re guessing an out-and-out entertainer was long due, and that’s the pattern that reflects here.
9. Housefull 4 (October 25, 2019)
Akshay Kumar makes it to the list again, too. Housefull 4, with its massive promotional strategies, makes it to the ninth spot. Because the content could not have gotten it there. The reincarnation comedy is the fourth installment of the Housefull franchise, so naturally, there was some curiosity around it. Then, the fact that Sajid Khan was replaced by Fawad Samji, following MeToo allegations that surfaced against him, also created quite a stir.
10. Uri: The Surgical Strike (January 11, 2019)
Here’s ending the Top 10 list with the same josh that we started the year with! Vicky Kaushal’s Uri: The Surgical Strike created a stir at the time of its release, and naturally so. But Uri created a spike all through February and March, evidently around Pulwama and Balakot, when the film found more resonance with the Indian audiences.
