Outlook Business Desk
Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun, is on track to become the fastest film to cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark, giving significant boost to the film industry, which has been grappling with declining box office numbers and low footfalls in cinemas following the Covid-19 pandemic
The film has already crossed Rs 600 crore domestically, with its highest box office collection recorded on Saturday. Trade analysts predict that Sunday could see the film’s biggest box office collection, with estimates suggesting a global total of Rs 950 crore by the end of the weekend
Other films that have crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark include Dangal, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, and Kalki 2898 AD. Given its massive box office success, Pushpa 2 is expected to join this exclusive club soon
Analysts anticipated that Pushpa 2 would earn Rs 1,000 crore in India alone, driven by its strong brand recall and high demand for advance bookings. The Hindi version alone grossed around Rs 250 crore over the weekend, and the film's record-breaking opening played a crucial role in revitalizing multiplex chains
At Cinepolis India, Pushpa 2 saw 220,000 admissions and Rs 9.6 crore in box office revenue on its opening day. Meanwhile, PVR INOX, India’s largest cinema exhibitor, reported the highest single-day admissions of 2024, surpassing 4 million admissions over the opening weekend
The success of Pushpa 2 is expected to set a positive tone for future releases, with analysts suggesting that the buzz generated by the film will benefit upcoming December films like Mufasa: The Lion King and Baby John
The film’s performance is helping bring audiences back to cinemas, and the strong momentum is expected to continue, offering hope for the Indian box office in 2024 after a disappointing year compared to 2023