Bollywood has seen mass hysteria before. It has witnessed euphoria. But Saiyaara? That’s something else entirely. A film headlined by rank newcomers, with no franchise muscle, no festive release cushion, and minimal pre-release hype, has roared like a box office behemoth — rewriting the rules of what constitutes a blockbuster in today’s cinema.

Over its opening weekend, Saiyaara has recorded a jaw-dropping Rs. 84 crore nett in India — a feat even big-ticket films struggle to achieve. With Friday pulling in Rs. 22 crore, Saturday surging to Rs. 26.25 crore, and Sunday peaking at Rs. 35.75 crore, Saiyaara has declared loud and clear: this is not just a debut hit — it’s a cultural phenomenon.

And what makes this all the more staggering? There was no holiday weekend, no star-driven PR blitz, and no pan-India push. What Saiyaara had instead was emotion, word-of-mouth, and relatability. The film’s strong emotional core, directed with flair by Mohit Suri, and the fresh chemistry of debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, struck a powerful chord with Gen Z and millennial audiences — the primary demographic driving ticket sales today.

Sunday witnessed a national surge, not just in urban multiplexes but even Tier-2 and Tier-3 centres, as families, couples, and youth turned Saiyaara into a shared movie-going ritual. It wasn’t just a film anymore. It was an experience. Theatres ran packed, shows went houseful by the hour, and social media was flooded with reels, reactions, and reviews calling it “the most unexpectedly beautiful love story in years.”

Industry insiders are stunned. The film's current box office trending now finds it in the same breath as Pathaan, Jawan, Gadar 2, Animal, Pushpa 2, Stree 2, and Chhaava — despite running on fewer screens and significantly fewer show counts. That kind of trajectory is unprecedented for a film with zero legacy backing.

Box office analysts believe Saiyaara is now headed towards a historic Week 1 total, with early trends suggesting minimal drop-off on weekdays. Given the euphoric word-of-mouth and high repeat value, crossing the Rs. 125 crore mark by Thursday seems more than achievable.

As the film continues its meteoric run, it also delivers a powerful industry lesson: storytelling still reigns supreme. Saiyaara has broken the long-held notion that only star-driven spectacles bring in the numbers. It has smashed through the obsession with casting, budgets, and holiday calendars. And most importantly, it has reignited hope that fresh talent, when packaged with sincerity and emotion, cannot just survive — but thrive.

With ₹84 crore already banked and the momentum only building, it’s safe to say: Saiyaara isn’t just a box office success. It’s a full-blown movement.

Saiyaara is an unstoppable force at the box office in India, as the Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda starrer is looking to collect around Rs. 34 crores on Sunday. With this, the three-day total of Mohit Suri's directorial stands at Rs. 82 crores, and the film has a good chance of hitting a century in 4 days flat.

Saiyaara has got the mass audience on board in big numbers and the same is reflecting in the box office collections too. The multiplex chains have collected around Rs. 40 crores in 3 days, contributing 48 percent to the total business.

Mohit Suri has established Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda as stars, with Saiyaara as the film has become an anthem for the youth and masses. The business is at a different level altogether and won’t stop anytime soon.

The film faced showcasing issues on Friday & Saturday, leading to an increase in shows for Sunday. A love story doing well is a great sign for the film industry, as the magic of romance continues to be intact

Records are piling up for Saiyaara already. The film is now following a trajectory better than the biggest film till date in romantic musical genre, Kabir Singh. The Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani starrer had opened at Rs. 20.21 crores and then went on to enjoy a weekend of Rs. 70.83 crores. While the Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda film had edged past the opening day with Rs. 22 crores (revised) on its first day, it’s now set to emerge as the biggest ever in this space as the weekend will comfortably surpass Rs. 70.83 crores, what with Rs. 48.25 crores already in its kitty.

That’s because while Kabir Singh had the second day of Rs. 22.71 crores, Saiyaara has done much better with a Rs. 26.25 crores haul. It has already managed to take a lead and even if it now manages to match the third of Kabir Singh (Rs. 27.91 crores), it will go on to have a much bigger weekend. Yes, Sandeep Reddy Vanga film was also A certified which limited its reach; however, it had the star presence of Shahid Kapoor and then each of its songs was a chartbuster already. Here, Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara had rank newcomers and then barring a couple of songs, rest have started becoming popular after the film’s release.

All eyes are now on now does the film further grow today. Advance booking is already solid for the film and the real fun would be to hit the Rs. 30 crores mark. It would be tough though since there are many other films playing, especially from Hollywood, which have a lot of screens and shows dedicated to them. As a result, it’s the capacity issue which Saiyaara is battling currently.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

History has been created. Saiyaara has defied all box office predictions and taken an excellent start. It was predicted in this column that the film would take an opening of Rs. 15-18 crores. In fact, even that was an afterthought because till a week before, it seemed like Rs. 6-8 crores start was on the anvil and even that would have been quite good. Then came Rs. 10-12 crores when the advance booking opened. By the time it started gathering place, Rs. 15-18 crores seemed on the cards. However, what has happened is totally unthinkable, totally unbelievable, as some of the biggest releases of 2025 have been challenged by this romantic musical.

The film has started at Rs. 21.25 crores and that puts all pre-release calculations to rest. North-South-West-East, single screens or multiplexes, urban centres or interiors, the film has opened well wherever it has found a screen for itself. In fact, it has been released at just around 2000 screens and that reflects the kind of capacity that the film has been enjoying from the very first show.

Ever since the inception of the Rs. 100 Crore Club, never before has a film with newcomers taken even a double digit start as Student Of The Year (Rs. 7.48 crores), Heropanti (Rs. 6.85 crores) and Hero (Rs. 6.63 crores) were good but below Rs. 10 crores mark. However his Ahaan Pandya and Ameer Padda film has done almost triple the business of the biggest so far, which goes on to show how brand Mohit Suri, melodious music and backing by YRF has made this one such a biggie. While Rs. 100 Crore Club would be reached by the film in the first week itself, even Rs. 200 crores would be a cakewalk for Saiyaara.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

After scoring a good half century in Week One by bringing in Rs. 56.48 crores, Jurassic World: Rebirth did well in second week as well by dropping just around 55% and in the process collecting Rs. 25.61 crores. These are very good overall numbers for the film which had mixed reports from the audiences. Still, Brand Jurassic is such that it invariably attracts audiences regardless of the reviews and the reports, and that’s what has brought it to Rs. 82.09 crores in two weeks.

The film did come down to Rs. 1.37 crore on its second Thursday and now with the arrival of Saiyaara, the screens and shows have been further divided. Yes, there are still some major premium slots still available for it and that will ensure that there would be a good rise in collections all over again in the third weekend. Also, for family audiences, this one stays on to be a good bet. However, there are multiple holdover releases as well and then next week arrives Son Of Sardaar 2, which means screens and shows will further reduce.

This is why one waits to see whether the film ultimately ends up entering the Rs. 100 Crore Club. By the look of things, it should stretch and reach there eventually. It won’t be a rapid run towards that milestone but before it’s off the theatres, Rs. 100 crores mark will be reached. Eventually it would be a very good overall result for the film as after Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, it would be yet another Hollywood affair to cross the century mark.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

After taking a good opening of Rs. 7.23 crores, Superman slowed down during the weekdays as Day 7 came to mere Rs. 1.82 crores. While Hollywood movies are traditionally weekend affairs, one still expected collections to hover around Rs. 2.50-3 crores mark at least. However, when Monday itself went below the Rs. 2.50 crores mark and stood at Rs. 2.36 crores, it was quite apparent that the first week would turn out to be just about average.

This is what happened indeed as after the first weekend didn’t really get a double digit score with Saturday being agonisingly short by just a lakh at Rs. 9.99 crores and Sunday actually dipping a bit at Rs. 9.39 crores, the weekdays stayed in Rs. 2 crores zone with Thursday going further low at Rs. 1.82 crores. On its second Friday, the film has anyways faced immense challenge due to the arrival of Saiyaara, as a result of which the collections have taken a hit.

While the first week numbers were Rs. 35.58 crores, so far, the film has netted Rs. 37 crores*. The good part is that there would be a rise in collections seen today and since the film is anyways playing at lower levels now, the quantum of jump will look bigger. There continues to be competition from Hollywood’s own Jurassic World: Rebirth as well as F1 - The Movie which means audiences are spilt for choices. Superman will go past Rs. 50 crores lifetime and if only the content would have entertained better too then after an opening of Rs. 7.23 crores, even a lifetime of around Rs. 65-75 crores could have been achieved.

*Estimates

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

The Yash Raj Films produced Saiyaara starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda has taken a bumper start at the box office in India. According to early estimates, the Mohit Suri directorial has collected in the range of Rs. 20 crores to Rs. 22 crores on the first day, surpassing all industry projections by a humongous margin.

The film has performed well across the board, from urban centers to mass belts, from multiplexes to single screens, and has achieved a start that can be termed the best of 2025 in real value.

The national chains are looking to collect in the range of Rs. 11 crores, contributing 52 percent to the total business. The film has taken the best start for a newcomer since Kaho Naa..Pyaar Hai and Aditya Chopra has successfully launched two potential stars of the Indian Film Industry.

Saiyaara has defied all pre-written rules of cinema and has changed the game of marketing for the film fraternity. The film is sure to enter the Rs. 100 crore club within a week and pose strong competition to releases in the time to come.

Mohit Suri’s romantic flick Saiyaara, starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has emerged as a huge surprise even before its release. The advance booking commenced on Monday in some cinemas without any official announcement and yet, it took a flying start. In this Bollywood Hungama special feature, we’ll focus on the ticket sales in the MovieMax chain of multiplexes.

As of Wednesday, July 16 at 11:15 am, Saiyaara has sold 2,059 tickets across its 19 cinemas and 77 screens. The number is impressive since Saiyaara is still two days away from release. As it's usually seen, the ticket sales increase considerably on Wednesday and Thursday. Hence, it remains to be seen if it's able to cross the 5000 or 6000 mark.

At present, Saiyaara is on the 28th slot when it comes to top advance booking grossers at MovieMax. Some of the films ahead of it are Jurassic World: Rebirth (2087 tickets), Badass Ravi Kumar (2400 tickets; had the Rs. 99 offer), Fighter (2850 tickets), Sikandar (3700 tickets), Kalki2898 AD (5100 tickets), Dunki (6300 tickets), Brahmastra (6500 tickets), Singham Again (7000 tickets), Jawan (17,500 tickets), Animal (18,600 tickets), Stree 2 (21,870 tickets), Chhaava (21,900 tickets) and Pushpa 2 – The Rule (22,500 tickets).

Meanwhile, Saiyaara has beaten prominent films like Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (1,400 tickets), Sitaare Zameen Par (1262 tickets), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1175 tickets), Kesari Chapter 2 (1146 tickets), etc. All these films opened at Rs. 10 crores plus. Hence, it won't be wrong to predict that Saiyaara can also open in double digits.

Looking at the momentum, it is expected to go past the milestone set by Fighter and Sikandar. Can it beat films like Dunki, Brahmastra, Singham Again etc, is the question.

On the other hand, as of Wednesday, 11:00 am, Saiyaara has sold a whopping 45,000 tickets in the national chains – 33,500 tickets in PVR Inox and 11,500 tickets in Cinepolis.

The films that sold more than 1000 tickets in advance in MovieMax are as follows: 1. Pushpa 2 – The Rule (Hindi) - 22,500 tickets 2. Chhaava - 21,900 tickets 3. Stree 2 - 21,780 tickets 4. Animal (Hindi) - 18,600 tickets 5. Jawan (Hindi) - 17,500 tickets 6. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 - 13,000 tickets 7. Gadar 2 - 12,500 tickets 8. Pathaan (Hindi) - 10,500 tickets 9. Adipurush (Hindi) - 9,600 tickets 10. Tiger3 (Hindi) - 8,400 tickets 11. Singham Again - 7,000 tickets 12. Brahmastra (Hindi) - 6,500 tickets 13. Dunki - 6,300 tickets 14. Mr & Mrs Mahi - 6,300 tickets (Rs 99 offer) 15. Deadpool & Wolverine - 6,125 tickets 16. Kalk i2898 AD Hindi - 5,100 tickets 17. Article 370 - 4,800 tickets (Rs 99 offer) 18. Raid 2 - 4,400 tickets 19. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning - 3,800 tickets 20. Sikandar - 3,700 tickets 21. Housefull 5 - 3,452 tickets 22. Shaitaan - 3,000 tickets 23. Fighter - 2,850 tickets 24. Salaar - 2,700 tickets 25. OMG 2 - 2,500 tickets 26. Badass Ravi Kumar - 2,400 tickets 27. Jurassic World: Rebirth - 2,087 tickets 28. Saiyaara - 2,059 tickets (2 days to go) 29. Crew - 1,900 tickets 30. Baby John - 1,700 tickets 31. Dharamveer 2 - 1,600 tickets 32. Sky Force - 1,500 tickets 33. Bad Newwz - 1,500 tickets 34. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani - 1,400 tickets 35. Dream Girl 2 - 1,360 tickets 36. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One - 1,350 tickets 37. Sitaare Zameen Par - 1,262 tickets 38. Fukrey 3 - 1,200 tickets 39. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan - 1,175 tickets 40. Crakk - 1,200 tickets (Rs 99 offer) 41. Kesari Chapter 2 - 1,146 tickets 42. Azaad - 1,115 tickets (Rs 99 offer) 43. Emergency - 1,070 tickets (Rs 99 offer) 44. Jaat - 1,005 tickets 45. Leo (Hindi) - 1,000 tickets

It was a good weekend for Superman as Rs. 25 crores milestone was comfortably crossed. The weekend is better than F1: The Movie, which has emerged as a ‘lambi race ka ghoda’ and lesser than Jurassic World: Rebirth, which has emerged as a quick-fire success. What matters though is that this is yet another good success from Hollywood in quick succession and for the exhibition circle this is great news as it keeps cinema-visiting habit intact amongst the audiences.

As a brand, Superman has been popular in the comic book scenario but as a movie, it didn’t really have any theatrical audience in India for the longest time. Yes, he is a superhero but that genre is totally dominated by Marvel movies and hence the success story that Superman has emerged as a cinematic experience in India is a first.

The film did start well with Rs. 7.24 crores coming on the first day and from this point on there was good growth on Saturday while Sunday stabilised. It wasn’t a meteoric rise though since an action film typically finds a good audience on the first day itself and then there is regular growth in days to come. The upwards trend was good enough to ensure Rs. 26.30 crores being collected by the close of first weekend. Yet again, it was the IMAX properties that brought in substantial moolah, what with majority of shows going houseful.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources.

Metro… In Dino is seeing good stability in its second weekend as well. After consistent collections on day-to-day basis during the first week, all eyes were on whether the film will find an audience in the second weekend. After all, there is huge competition from Hollywood in the form of Superman, Jurassic World: Rebirth and F1: The Movie. Also, from Bollywood there is the new release Maalik and to some extent, holdover release Sitaare Zameen Par too.

Well, the Anurag Basu film has found resonance with its target audience, the ones at the key metros, and here at premium multiplexes there are consistent footfalls now. Word of mouth amongst those who have a taste for such niche urban affairs is decent to good, and that has been fine enough to ensure that the film stays in circulation.

This was seen on Saturday as well when Rs. 4.50 crores* more came in. For a film which is in its second weekend, these are good enough numbers because first Saturday stood at Rs. 6.81 crores, so the drop is much lesser than 50%. With the overall collections standing at Rs. 35.50 crores*, the ensemble affair is well on track to cross Rs. 50 crores milestone rather comfortably.

*Estimates

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

Rajkummar Rao's foray into action with Maalik has met with a lukewarm response at the box office in India. According to early estimates, Maalik has collected in the range of Rs. 3.25 crores to Rs. 3.75 crores, in sync with the pre-release predictions. The film has opened better than what the advance bookings suggested, as there was a fear of starting around the Rs. 2.50 crore mark too, but the walk-ups were better due to mass-appealing content.

The urban markets are not up to the mark, whereas there is some genuine movement in the single screens. The start is however, poor as the costs are on the higher side and the film needed to show a better start to have a chance. There won't be much of a growth as the action genre is usually frontloaded.

Maalik is likely to collect Rs. 15 crores over the opening weekend.

It was a decent Sunday for Metro… In Dino as Rs. 7.79 crores came in. Ideally, these should have been the first day collections for the film because if that would have been the case then Saturday and Sunday would have at least got into a double digit score. Howeve,r since that didn’t turn out to be the case and the growth was also that regular weekend one, and not phenomenal, the film hasn’t managed to touch Rs. 10 crores so far.

With that not happening, not just the weekend has turned out to be low but now the pressure would be on weekdays to over perform. The trending of such kind of multiplex oriented films in the past has shown that if weekend growth is not monumental then on Monday there is further drop over Friday seen. Hence, all associated with Metro… In Dino would be hoping for a miracle to happen and the trends to reverse, so that Monday collections come close to Friday numbers of Rs. 4.05 crores.

The film has collected Rs. 18.65 crores which is pretty much on the same lines as last week’s Maa, which had brought in 18.43 crores over its first weekend. Now Metro.. In Dino is a much bigger film with a far larger ensemble cast and the credentials involved. Yes, it has faced a lot of competition from Sitaare Zameen Par, Jurassic World Rebirth and F1 The Movie because in absence of that it would certainly have done at least 50% better. However, the fact remains that this is where things are and now one waits to see how this Anurag Basu film does in weekdays to come.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

The Anurag Basu directed Metro In Dino has seen an upward swing in business in the opening weekend, as the word of mouth in the urban markets started to come into play for the romantic saga. After opening at Rs. 4 crore on Friday, Metro In Dino jumped at Rs. 6.80 crore on Saturday, and Rs. 7.50 crore on Sunday. With this, the three-day total stands at Rs. 18 crore.

The film, as expected, is doing the best business in the urban areas, and the national multiplexes have contributed about 65 percent to the total business. The film needs to show bare minimal drop on Monday, and then hold at similar levels through the week, leading to the second weekend. The weekend trend is encouraging, but the real test for Metro In Dino begins on the weekdays.

The film has a strong ensemble cast, and a situational music album which is drawing the audience to the big screen. If the film holds well in week one, this will end up being a success story in the long run.

Metro… In Dino saw good growth on Saturday as collections jumped to Rs. 6.81 crores. On Friday, Rs. 4.05 crores had come in, so definitely there is good improvement. However, the film needed to follow a trajectory like that of Sitaare Zameen Par since first and foremost it had opened less than half of it and secondly, for it to cover a good distance towards even a decent lifetime score, growth of 100% or more which was required.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that the film has jumped, which shows that there is appreciation in certain pockets at least. That was expected too since the film has decent credentials and reports, and hence at least in premium multiplexes of major cities there are bound to be footfalls. However, the momentum needs to continue building and while today the requirement is for further jump on the same lines as Saturday, Monday would need to be more or at least equal to that of Friday.

So far, the Anurag Basu directed film has reached Rs. 10.86 crores and the weekend would need to be at least Rs. 20 crores. Last week, Maa had weekend collections of Rs. 18.43 crores after seeing a better opening than Metro… In Dino and then could muster Rs. 27.10 crores after Week One. Metro… In Dino should do better than that since it’s a core multiplex film and here the holds are expected to be better. However, the film would need to play on for a much longer time from second week onwards as well to register a fair lifetime score of at least Rs. 50 crores.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

The Anurag Basu directed Metro In Dino has seen a 60 percent jump in collections on Saturday, as early estimates are suggesting second day business in the range of Rs. 6.40 crore to Rs. 6.60 crore. With this, the two day total of Metro In Dino stands at Rs. 10.50 crore, and the film will score an opening weekend of Rs. 17 crore.

The film has shown good jump in the multiplexes, and it was always expected as the film caters to the elite audience in urban areas. The film is a rather expensive one, which means that a lot of work is yet to be done. A strong hold on Monday, and a healthy trend for at-least 3 weeks is needed to take it past the finish line.

Metro In Dino has appreciation in the urban centres, and not so much in the mass belts, as director Basu has made a film strictly for the high ticket price paying audience in the posh areas of India.

The national multiplexes have contributed about 65 percent to the business in the first two days.

As was predicted in this column a couple of days back, Metro… In Dino was expected to open in Rs. 3-4 crores range. Not that it was the kind of opening that augured well with the budget and credentials of the film. Still, post pandemic things have changed a lot, especially for niche urban multiplex kind of films like these which rely entirely on word of mouth. There is a lot of content like this which has been unleashed on OTT in the last 5 years, which means the content needs to be super solid for the film to grow from Saturday onwards.

That’s what all associated with the film would be looking forward to as well after the first day collections of Rs. 4.05 crores. The good part is that at least it hasn’t gone below the expectations that one had from it and now the stage is open for it to perform from this point on. It could well have had a field day as well but then there are Jurassic World Rebirth, F1 The Movie and Sitaare Zameen Par playing as well, all of which are catering to the same segment of multiplex audiences in key Indian cities. This means the film has task cut out for it.

Reviews as well as audience word of mouth for the film ranges from being decent to good, which means it has the potential to go up. However, the jump would need to be really big and at the very least it needs to go up by 75%, if not 100%. That would be a challenge indeed but then that’s something which is the need of the hour as well for this ensemble affair One waits to see how if that happens indeed.

Note: All collections as per various box office sources

As Bollywood crosses the halfway mark in 2025, the overseas box office offers a compelling narrative of how Indian cinema continues to find resonance far beyond domestic borders. Leading the charge is Vicky Kaushal’s historical epic Chhaava, which has asserted its dominance with a powerful overseas haul, while Sikandar, starring Salman Khan, has turned heads with its strong global showing despite mixed reviews at home. What emerges from the Top 10 list is not just star power, but a shifting landscape where content, nostalgia, and mass appeal are being received differently across international markets.

Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava leads the overseas box office with a formidable USD 10.25 million, cementing its place not just as a domestic giant but as a worldwide performer. The film’s themes of legacy, sacrifice, and cultural pride have clearly struck a chord with the Indian diaspora, particularly in North America, the Middle East, and the UK. Compared to the rest of the films on the list, Chhaava stands almost 62% ahead of the second-ranked film, underlining the global appetite for sweeping period dramas when executed with scale and heart.

Salman Khan’s Sikandar takes the second spot with USD 6.316 million, a performance that underscores Salman’s enduring popularity overseas, even when the film's domestic collection wasn't at its peak. What worked in its favour was the wide release strategy across Gulf countries and Canada, where Salman continues to enjoy a massive fan base. While not a blockbuster by his own towering standards, Sikandar still delivered one of the year’s most bankable international runs. 

Housefull 5, the latest chapter in the hit comedy franchise, claims the third position with USD 5.45 million. The film’s overseas numbers indicate that its slapstick humour and ensemble appeal continue to travel well, especially in the UK and Australia where the franchise has always enjoyed loyal followings. While the film couldn’t match the franchise’s previous instalment in domestic numbers, it outpaced several action films overseas, proving that big-screen comedy still has its place when nostalgia meets accessibility.

Close behind is Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which grossed USD 5.15 million. The film, rooted in emotional storytelling and family values, saw a strong run in North America and New Zealand. Though it narrowly missed surpassing Housefull 5, it performed exceptionally well for a non-franchise film and showcased Aamir’s global draw with audiences that favour substance over spectacle.

Kesari Chapter 2, Akshay Kumar’s sequel to the 2019 war drama, pulled in USD 3.90 million overseas. Though it didn’t scale the highs of Kesari, which had performed better in overseas markets, the sequel still proved Akshay’s patriotic narratives have consistent pull abroad, particularly in regions with large Sikh populations like Canada and the UK.

Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 follows with USD 3.40 million. Unlike Raid, which had a relatively modest overseas run, the sequel benefited from Devgn’s growing credibility in intense, realistic dramas. While not a top-tier overseas performer, it found its audience, especially in UAE and Singapore.

Top 6 highest overseas grossers of 2025 at a glance:

Chhaava - USD 10.25 mil.

Sikandar - USD 6.316 mil.

Housefull 5 - USD 5.45 mil.

Sitaare Zameen Par - USD 5.15 mil.

Kesari Chapter 2 - USD 3.90 mil.

Raid 2 - USD 3.40 mil.

The Anurag Basu-directed Metro… In Dino has taken a decent start at the box office in India. Riding on a solid ensemble cast of Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Saswata Chatterjee, the film has collected Rs. 4 crores on its first day, in par the pre-release expectations.

The film has done the best business in the urban markets, with national chains contributing 60 percent to the total. The early reports for Metro In Dino are good in the target audience, and the hope is on the film to show big jumps on Saturday and Sunday based on support of the cinema going audiences in urban markets.

A weekend of Rs. 20 crores would put the film in a good spot, and the business needs to see a jump of at-least 75 percent on Saturday for that to happen.

Six months into 2025, the global box office has witnessed a mixed bag of expectations met and surprises sprung, particularly when it comes to Hollywood releases in India. With franchise fatigue looming over several big-budget offerings, it’s Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning that has emerged as the clear frontrunner, while the unexpected success of Final Destination: Bloodlines has taken many by surprise. From spy thrillers and horror revivals to animated nostalgia and Marvel’s wavering phase, the first half of the year has painted a compelling, if slightly muted, picture of the theatrical landscape.

Leading the pack is Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which grossed Rs. 110.21 crore at the Indian box office. While that figure is lower than its predecessor Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which earned Rs. 120.42 crore in 2023, the decline of 8.5% is relatively moderate. Given that the latest instalment was marketed as the franchise's swansong and featured some of the most elaborate stunt sequences yet, expectations were sky-high. Yet, despite positive word of mouth and Cruise's ever reliable fanbase, the numbers suggest a slight fatigue setting in, possibly due to the long wait between parts and a saturated action market.

If Mission Impossible was the expected hit, Final Destination: Bloodlines was the dark horse. The horror franchise, revived after more than a decade, shocked trade analysts by pulling in Rs. 62.12 crore in India, outperforming every one of its predecessors. In fact, compared to Final Destination 5 which earned approximately Rs. 28 crore during its 2011 run in India, Bloodlines has recorded a 121.8% jump in earnings. The film’s fresh take on the death-cheating formula, combined with smart marketing and a wave of nostalgia for early 2000s horror, clearly struck a chord with Gen Z and millennial audiences.

At a distant third, How To Train Your Dragon returned to screens with a live action instalment that banked heavily on goodwill from its beloved animated predecessors. However, with Rs. 20.57 crore at the Indian box office, the latest outing fell far short of How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which had earned Rs. 45.30 crore in 2019. That’s a 54.6% drop in collections, indicating that while the franchise retains emotional resonance, the theatrical appetite for animation seems to have cooled post-pandemic in the Indian market.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, once the undisputed champion of the Indian box office, finds itself on shakier ground this year. Thunderbolts, despite its ensemble cast and edgy premise, brought in only Rs. 19 crore — a figure that pales in comparison to earlier non-Avengers outings like Black Widow (Rs. 39.25 crore). That marks a 51.6% decline, suggesting that Marvel’s lesser-known team-ups may no longer hold the sway they once did without marquee characters or connected storytelling hooks.

Similarly, Captain America: Brave New World, headlined by Anthony Mackie in his first solo outing as the new Cap, earned Rs. 18.45 crore — making it the fifth highest Hollywood grosser of the year in India so far. In comparison, Captain America: Civil War had earned ₹59.05 crore in 2016, marking a stark 68.7% drop. Despite Marvel's attempt to transition to a new era of heroes, it’s evident that audiences are yet to fully embrace the post-Endgame universe, especially when the stakes or star appeal aren’t as compelling.

In summary, while Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning has managed to assert dominance despite a dip, it is Final Destination: Bloodlines that has arguably stolen the spotlight with its unexpected box office resurgence. The rest of the top five reflects a shift in audience tastes and the challenges franchises face in sustaining interest beyond a certain point. As the industry looks to the next wave of releases the second half of 2025 will determine whether Hollywood can regain its blockbuster stride in Indian cinemas.

Top 5 Highest Grossers of 2025 so far:

Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning - Rs. 110.21 cr.

Final Destination Bloodlines- Rs. 62.12 cr.

How To Train Your Dragon - Rs. 20.57 cr.

Thunderbolts* - Rs. 19 cr.

Captain America: Brave New World - Rs. 18.45 cr.

Back in 2013, Aamir Khan — known not only for his stellar performances but also his sharp industry insights — introduced a new way of measuring a film’s true success at the box office. While promoting Dhoom 3, the actor explained that a film’s weekend-to-lifetime multiple offered a more accurate reflection of its content strength than just its opening numbers. According to Aamir: “If a film does Rs. 40 crore over the weekend and ends at Rs. 202 crore, that means the multiple is around 5. That shows people are returning to theatres. But if a film does Rs. 100 crore in three days and wraps up at Rs. 200 crore, then it hasn't sustained.”

In simpler terms, the higher the Weekend to Lifetime Multiple, the better the film’s content, word-of-mouth, and repeat value. As the first half of 2025 wraps up, we look at six films from the ₹100 crore club that stand out according to this metric — and offer a new lens on what truly worked at the box office. 

Chhaava: 4.94 Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava emerges as the undisputed content king of the year. Despite opening to a strong weekend, the film’s final box office tally soared nearly 5 times its opening weekend numbers. This impressive multiple speaks volumes about the historical drama’s organic growth, fuelled by audience appreciation, positive reviews, and repeat viewership. Chhaava wasn’t just an event film; it became a word-of-mouth phenomenon, gaining traction week-on-week and solidifying its place among modern box office classics. 

Kesari Chapter 2: 3.76 Akshay Kumar’s sequel to his 2019 hit Kesari quietly made a mark with solid legs at the box office. While the opening weekend was modest compared to his previous war films, Kesari Chapter 2 multiplied its business effectively. The film’s patriotic theme and appeal to Sikh audiences globally likely contributed to its extended run, especially in regions like Canada and the UK. 

Bhool Chuk Maaf: 2.58 This mid-budget relationship drama may not have made explosive headlines with its weekend collection, but with a respectable 2.58 multiple, it proved to be a strong word-of-mouth performer. The film quietly stayed in the conversation due to its emotional depth and relatability, with viewers trickling in through the weeks. It may not have had blockbuster status, but according to Aamir’s metric, it was a film that resonated. 

Raid 2: 2.41 Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2, a sequel to the hit 2018 original, had a robust opening thanks to its genre and returning fanbase. However, the multiple of 2.41 suggests a relatively front-loaded performance. While the film did decent business, it didn’t quite generate the level of repeat viewing that would have pushed its multiple higher. Still, the numbers indicate that Raid 2 held its own, especially among fans of intense, realistic dramas. 

Sitaare Zameen Par: 2.26 Aamir Khan’s own release this year finds itself at the lower end of his own measuring stick. While Sitaare Zameen Par garnered attention for its emotional core and thoughtful storytelling, its multiple of 2.26 indicates that the film struggled to convert initial interest into sustained footfalls. This could be attributed to competition, a non-festive release window, or perhaps the high expectations attached to the brand of Taare Zameen Par. Still, the film managed a decent total, even if it didn’t achieve the longevity one might expect from an Aamir Khan project.

By applying Aamir Khan’s weekend-to-lifetime multiple, 2025 offers a clearer picture of which films truly connected with audiences beyond just their hype and star power. As the year progresses, it will be interesting to see which upcoming titles can join this list of cinematic slow burners.

List of Successful movies of 2025 according to Aamir Khan’s formula

Chhaava - 4.94

Kesari - Chapter 2 - 3.76

Bhool Chuk Maaf - 2.58

Raid 2 - 2.41

Sitaare Zameen Par - 2.14