BY CHRISTA LINCY

The final advance booking numbers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day are in, and they reinforce the fact that the web-slinger remains the primary driver of the Indian box office for solo superhero releases. Although the film did not quite reach the monumental milestone established by Avengers: Endgame in 2019, its performance has been nothing short of exceptional. Starting with BookMyShow, the film has achieved a milestone by becoming the first Hollywood release to sell over 50,000 tickets in a single hour. This is a significant data point because it reflects the peak momentum just before the first show starts. Since the introduction of the real-time trending feature in August 2023, no other international film has shown this kind of hourly velocity. The total ticket sales on the platform have officially crossed the 2 million mark. To give you some context on the growth, the film had sold approximately 1.39 million tickets between June 17 and July 28. However, on July 29 alone, it added another 615,000 tickets, showing a massive late surge in interest. Top 10 Hollywood Pre-Sales on BookMyShow (Since Aug '23): 1. Spider Man Brand New Day - 2M 2. Deadpool And Wolverine - 505K 3. Avatar Fire And Ash - 474K 4. The Conjuring - 443K 5. TheOdyssey - 340K+ 6. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning - 248K 7. Godzilla x Kong - 193K 8. Mufasa The Lion King - 152K 9. Jurassic World - 124K 10.F1 - 113K (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When we look at the performance across the National Chains in India—which include PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—the numbers are very strong, though they do highlight where the current ceiling for solo releases sits. For the opening day of July 30, 2026, the three major chains combined have sold approximately 6 lakh tickets in advance. This has resulted in a gross collection of roughly 27.50 crore rupees from these chains alone. Looking at the individual breakdown, PVR led the charge with 3 lakh tickets sold, generating over 14 crore rupees. INOX followed with 1.95 lakh tickets and 8.35 crore rupees, while Cinepolis contributed 1.05 lakh tickets, adding another 5 crore rupees to the total. The average occupancy across more than 7,700 shows in these chains remains at a very healthy 37 percent, showing that while the demand is massive, there is still room for walk-in audiences to fill the remaining seats. It is interesting to compare these figures with the all-time records. Even with this massive push, the record held by Avengers: Endgame remains untouched. Back in 2019, Endgame sold a staggering 10.25 lakh tickets in national chains for its opening day. That film benefited from a unique cultural moment where the Indian government allowed 24x7 screenings for the first time to meet demand, and A.R. Rahman even composed a special Marvel Anthem for the Indian audience. While Spider-Man: Brand New Day has outperformed Spider-Man: No Way Home, which stood at 5.50 lakh tickets, and Avengers: Infinity War at 4.86 lakh tickets, the Endgame milestone is a different beast entirely. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The buzz is not restricted to India. Detailed data shared by Venky Box Office provides a clear picture of the film performance in North America. The domestic opening day pre-sales reached 67.8 million dollars. This was part of a larger 100 million dollar plus pre-sale figure for the entire opening weekend. In the domestic circuit, the AMC chain alone contributed 20.8 million dollars from 1.13 million tickets. Other chains brought in 18.9 million dollars, while Regal and Cinemark added 12.1 million and 11.7 million dollars respectively. Canada also showed strong support with 4.3 million dollars in pre-sales. In total, nearly 3.95 million tickets were sold across North America before the first screening began. Logically, the trend shows that while the solo Spider-Man brand is growing, the collective hype of an Avengers finale creates a level of urgency that is hard to replicate. However, ranking as the second-best Spider-Man opening and the fourth-best Hollywood opening in India is no small feat. The film is currently trending at the fifth spot for overall BookMyShow pre-sales since late 2023. With a 300 million dollar domestic opening weekend now being a realistic possibility in the US, the film is set to be one of the biggest commercial successes of the year.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhamaal 4 is showing surprising resilience as it moves through its third week. For a comedy franchise that relies on repeat value and family audiences, the film is holding its ground despite newer competition. On its nineteenth day, which was its third Tuesday, the movie brought in a net collection of 2.10 crore. This is a notable 31.3 percent jump from Monday's 1.60 crore, suggesting that the film is benefiting from mid-week theater-goers and perhaps a steady word-of-mouth trail. This growth is particularly impressive because the film is currently navigating a market with strong holdover like The Odyssey, which continues to see good traction in India. While it currently sits as the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year, catching up to Bhooth Bangla will be a challenge. The road ahead is packed with upcoming releases like Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2, plus the major Hollywood arrival of Spider-Man, which will make securing screens much tougher in the coming weeks. If we look at the broader picture, the India gross collection has now reached 182.32 crore, which translates to a domestic net total of 153.35 crore. The film has also found some traction abroad, adding 0.25 crore on Tuesday to bring its total overseas gross to 29.45 crore. Combining the domestic and international business, the worldwide gross for Dhamaal 4 now stands at 211.77 crore. This milestone is significant because it puts the film in striking distance of some of Ajay Devgn's biggest career hits. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ticket sales on BookMyShow reflect this late-week surge. On Monday, the film sold about 27,900 tickets, but that number climbed to 39,250 on Tuesday. In total, the film has sold over 26.56 lakh tickets on the platform since its release. In the national cinema chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—it currently stands as the third highest-selling movie, trailing only behind the massive holdover of The Odyssey and the recent hit Jana Nayagan. Looking at the daily advance figures for these chains, the film generated a gross of approximately 32.3 lakh. This came from around 16.7 lakh at PVR, 11.1 lakh at INOX, and 4.5 lakh at Cinepolis, totaling roughly 23,400 tickets sold across these venues. The regional occupancy for the Hindi 2D version shows that the National Capital Region (NCR) remains a stronghold with 21.3 percent occupancy across 620 shows. Mumbai followed with 17.8 percent occupancy across 405 shows, while Pune recorded a healthy 17.3 percent. Other regions like Ahmedabad and Surat saw lower overall occupancy but maintained strong night show turnouts, often peaking near 26 to 29 percent. This trend of evening and night show growth is helping the film sustain its daily numbers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In terms of annual rankings, Dhamaal 4 is currently the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood movie of the year. It trails behind Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, Border 2, and Bhooth Bangla. While it is performing well, surpassing Bhooth Bangla might be a tall order. The upcoming schedule is crowded with major releases like Batwara and Awarapan on the domestic front, alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Spider-Man. Additionally, the continued dominance of The Odyssey makes it difficult for any holdover film to claim more screen space. For Ajay Devgn, this film is another strong addition to his box office portfolio. It is currently very close to surpassing Singham Returns, which earned 216.56 crore worldwide. Once it crosses that mark, it will cement its place among his most successful leading roles. To give you some context on where this film stands compared to his other major solo hits, here is the ranking of his top movies based on worldwide gross collection. Top 5 Leading Role Movies of Ajay Devgn - Worldwide Gross CollectionMOVIE NAMEWORLDWIDE GROSS Singham Again₹ 372.41 CrTanhaji: The Unsung Warrior₹ 361.00 CrDrishyam 2₹ 342.31 CrGolmaal Again₹ 308.62 CrTotal Dhamaal₹ 232.18 Cr

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The most anticipated cinematic spectacle in Indian film history has finally unveiled its grand vision. The official trailer for Ramayana: Part 1, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, was released globally during the auspicious Brahma Muhurat. Touted as the most expensive Indian motion picture ever made, the magnum opus brings together a stellar ensemble cast led by Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash. Powerful Visuals and Grand Character Introductions The trailer opens with a gripping sequence set against the opulent architecture of Lanka and Ayodhya. Rocking a commanding presence, Ranbir Kapoor makes a majestic entry as Lord Ram, displaying a flawless blend of calm nobility and fierce resolve. Opposite him, Sai Pallavi makes her debut as Sita, embodying serenity and grace. However, it is Yash who steals the limelight with his menacing screen presence. Portraying the formidable Asura king Ravana, Yash commands every frame with dark, terrifying authority, setting up an epic clash of divine forces. A High-Octane Sonic Experience: The background score is co-composed by Academy Award winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, alongside sitar virtuoso Rishab Rikhiram Sharma. The score blends rich traditional Indian classical instrumentation with massive global orchestral themes. Key Cast & Project Overview Director: Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal, Chhichhore) Producer: Namit Malhotra (Prime Focus / DNEG) in association with Sony Pictures Entertainment Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram Sai Pallavi as Sita Yash as Ravana Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman Ravie Dubey as Lakshman Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha Box Office Expectations & Release Schedule With Prime Focus's Oscar-winning visual effects studio DNEG backing the CGI, Ramayana is engineered to set unprecedented records at the Indian and international box office. Film Title: Ramayana: Part 1 Genre: Epic Mythological / Action / Drama Theatrical Release: Diwali 2026 (Part 1) / Diwali 2027 (Part 2) Languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam & International Dubs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q: When is Ramayana Part 1 releasing in theatres?A: Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled for a grand worldwide theatrical release during Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 on Diwali 2027. Q: Who plays Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana?A: Rocking Star Yash plays the role of Asura King Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari's two-part cinematic adaptation. Q: Who composed the music and background score for the Ramayana movie?A: The soundtrack and score are jointly composed by Oscar winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, featuring sitar music by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma. Q: Which studio is handling the VFX for Ramayana?A: The visual effects and CGI are powered by the Oscar-winning studio DNEG in collaboration with Prime Focus Studios.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, July 29 - Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan has reached another major milestone at the box office, crossing 250 crore worldwide while also surpassing 100 crore gross in Tamil Nadu in 7 days. After opening below the sky-high expectations associated with Vijay's farewell film, the H. Vinoth directorial has displayed good staying power, posting a solid first week despite the usual weekday slowdown. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Jana Nayagan has grossed around 246 crore worldwide in its first six days of release, with Tamil Nadu leading the charge with around 97 crore gross. The film has now crossed the prestigious 100 crore gross mark in the state, making it Thalapathy Vijay's ninth film to achieve the feat in the state, while also topping 250 crore worldwide in just 7 days. The milestone once again highlights Vijay's extraordinary dominance at the Tamil Nadu box office, where he continues to set benchmarks unmatched by any contemporary Tamil star. The film's performance becomes even more impressive considering the challenges it faced before release. Jana Nayagan arrived in cinemas after a release delay, suffered an online leak, and was awarded an 'A' certificate, factors that could have significantly affected its commercial prospects. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) However, strong fan support and Vijay's immense popularity ensured a solid opening weekend, while the surprisingly steady weekday hold has kept the collections, despite outright negative reception. The focus now shifts to the film's second weekend, which is expected to determine its long-term theatrical run. A strong hold over the weekend could comfortably push Jana Nayagan beyond the 300 crore worldwide milestone, which will be a massive win given the circumstances.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has always had a flair for the grand and the unconventional, and it looks like he is about to change the rules of the game once again with his upcoming project, Love and War. According to an exclusive report by Bollywood Hungama, the film—which features the powerhouse trio of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal—will not be starting its promotional journey with a typical teaser or a motion poster. Instead of the usual marketing route, the director is reportedly working on something far more ambitious. Bhansali is personally shaping a special promotional asset designed to be an immersive experience for the audience. This isn't just a standard clip or a still image; it is being crafted to serve as a proper introduction to the emotional depth and scale of the cinematic world he has built for this movie. The idea is to give fans a first glimpse that feels like a journey into the film's atmosphere rather than just a quick preview. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The project is currently in its final stages of development, with the filmmaker collaborating closely with his creative team to ensure the vision is perfect. The plan is to unveil this special asset sometime in August, which will mark the official start of the marketing campaign. By skipping the traditional teaser format, the aim is to create an event-like atmosphere that transports viewers straight into the essence of the story before they even see a full trailer. This strategy fits perfectly with Bhansali's philosophy that storytelling begins the moment a project is announced. He wants to capture the specific mood and scale of Love and War rather than just showing isolated character looks or a standard motion poster. Since this is the first time Ranbir, Alia, and Vicky are sharing the screen under his direction, the anticipation is already at a fever pitch, and this unique launch strategy is likely to amplify that buzz significantly. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Industry insiders are calling this a potential landmark in promotional history. It suggests that the movie is much more than a standard big-budget release; it is an experience that the director wants the audience to feel from the very first glimpse. If everything goes according to plan next month, fans will finally get their first taste of what is expected to be one of the biggest releases in the Hindi film industry in recent years.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The collaboration between Allu Arjun and director Atlee for their upcoming film Raaka is taking the Indian film industry by storm with its massive scale. According to an exclusive report by India Today, this project is no longer just a single film but has been expanded into a two-part franchise. The sheer ambition of the project is reflected in its staggering budget, which is currently estimated to be around 1,000 crore, making it one of the most expensive cinematic ventures ever attempted in the country. What makes Raaka particularly interesting is its narrative structure, which aims to bridge the gap between ancient mythology and the modern day. The film is set to weave together two entirely different worlds across distinct timelines. One major segment of the story will transport audiences back to a tribal Puranic Vedic era, a period that promises to showcase a unique aesthetic rarely explored with such high-end production values. The second segment will contrast this by bringing the story into a modern contemporary world. This dual-timeline approach suggests a deep, interconnected mystery between the ancestral past and the present, with Allu Arjun at the center of the narrative. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The casting choices for the film further highlight the divide between these two distinct eras. In the contemporary setting, Mrunal Thakur is set to play a lead role. Meanwhile, the historical Puranic Vedic segment will feature an incredible trio of leading ladies, including Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna. Having four major stars like this in a single project shows the level of world-building Atlee is putting into the franchise, ensuring that both parts carry significant star power and narrative weight across the different time periods. Beyond the primary cast, the film continues to generate headlines with its high-profile special appearances. The much-anticipated cameo by Shah Rukh Khan remains a key highlight for fans. It is reported that his portions are yet to be filmed and are currently being planned for an international schedule overseas to match the global aesthetic the makers are aiming for. Despite the complexity of filming two separate timelines and managing such a massive ensemble, industry reports suggest that the team intends to complete the principal photography for both parts before the end of this year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the production house has kept specific plot points under wraps, the vision for Raaka is clearly aimed at creating a landmark cinematic experience. By moving away from a standalone format and embracing a two-part franchise model, Atlee and Allu Arjun are giving the story the room it needs to breathe.