Stree 2 is on a record-breaking spree. Right from the word ‘go’, it went on a box-office rampage, smashing old records and establishing new ones. It is easily the biggest blockbuster of the year so far and also genuinely the biggest grosser without an A-list star. Released on Thursday (August 15) to take advantage of the Independence Day national holiday, it netted a phenomenal Rs. 52.40 crore on the first day. Its paid previews in the evening and night shows on 14th yielded a collection total of Rs. 8.60 crore which itself was super-impressive. Collections on Friday were Rs. 32.20 crore while the unbelievable totals for Saturday and Sunday were Rs. 45 crore and Rs. 55 crore respectively. The dream collections continued on Monday too owing to the Raksha Bandhan festival holiday. The fifth day closed at Rs. 37.50 crore. As if the extended 5-day holiday weekend (when the net collections totalled Rs. 230.70 crore (including paid previews) were not enough, collections on Tuesday were also excellent. The sixth day closed at Rs. 25.25 crore. The total for Wednesday was Rs. 19.75 crore while the last day (Thursday) of the first week closed at Rs. 18 crore. In this way, the 8-day total (plus paid previews) was an earth-shattering Rs. 293.70 crore, which is more than the lifetime collections of each and every film released in 2024 so far. The horror comedy sequel joined the Rs. 300-crore club yesterday (August 23, the first day of the second weekend) itself. At the rate at which the film is weaving its magic, it seems set to touch the Rs. 400-crore mark by the end of the second week or in the third weekend!
Khel Khel Mein won appreciation from the classes but did not appeal to the masses. Hence the collections in the first week were far from healthy in spite of the holiday weekend. After netting only Rs. 5.50 crore on the first day (Thursday, August 15) despite the Independence Day holiday, the film could collect only Rs. 12.50 crore in the 4-day extended weekend (again, in spite of the Raksha Bandhan holiday on Monday) and another Rs. 4.50 crore during the weekdays, taking the 8-day week’s total to Rs. 22.50 crore only. The film will entail heavy losses to all concerned.
The marriage of mass subject and class handling in Vedaa went against the film which, therefore, netted dull collections in the holiday week. After a lukewarm initial of just Rs. 6 crore on Thursday (August 15) despite the national holiday, the actioner netted only Rs. 8.75 crore in the extended 4-day weekend (again, in spite of the Raksha Bandhan holiday on Monday) and a further Rs. 3.25 crore during the balance three weekdays. In this way, the first 8-day week closed at Rs. 18 crore only. Heavy losses to all concerned are now a certainty.
Double Ismart (dubbed) proved to be a box-office dud in the first week.
Deadpool & Wolverine (dubbed and the original English versions) started its fourth weekend with a take of Rs. 0.32 crore on Friday. Collections on Saturday and Sunday were Rs. 0.51 crore and Rs. 0.55 crore respectively, taking the total for the fourth weekend to Rs. 1.38 crore. Collections for the weekdays were: Monday (Raksha Bandhan holiday) – Rs. 0.21 crore, Tuesday – Rs. 0.15 crore, Wednesday – Rs. 0.13 crore, Thursday – Rs. 0.13 crore. Therefore, the total for the weekdays was Rs. 0.62 crore. In this way, the total for 4th week was Rs. 2 crore. Grand total for 4 weeks: Rs. 128.41 crore.
