BY CHRISTA LINCY

The first weekend for the movie Blast shows how strong word-of-mouth can completely shift a film's box office trajectory. What started as a modest release has quickly turned into a profitable venture for the producers. The movie was made on a reported budget of 15 Cr, and with a major portion of that already recovered through Netflix digital rights, every rupee earned at the ticket window now adds to its success. The gritty vibe of the film and its engaging plot seem to have caught the attention of the audience, leading to an impressive jump in show counts and occupancy as the weekend progressed. Analyzing the growth from the first day to the fourth, the momentum is clearly visible. On Day 1, the film opened with a net collection of 1.25 Cr from 1,728 shows. By Sunday, Day 4, the demand pushed the show count to 2,706, and the net collection grew to 6.00 Cr. This represents a massive surge compared to the opening day. The occupancy levels provide a clearer picture of this trend; in Chennai, the Tamil version started at 39.5 percent occupancy on Thursday and skyrocketed to 73.3 percent by Sunday. Similarly, Coimbatore saw a jump from 25.8 percent to 69.3 percent. This type of growth suggests that the audience is actively recommending the film, which is the best-case scenario for a mid-budget project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The regional performance has been led by Tamil Nadu, which contributed 3.75 Cr to the gross on Sunday alone, bringing its total state gross to 9.30 Cr. Kerala has also emerged as a strong market, with a Sunday gross of 1.45 Cr taking its total to 2.56 Cr. In the Telugu states, the movie earned 1.00 Cr gross on Day 4, with Hyderabad recording a 32 percent occupancy. Significantly, the total India gross of 16.03 Cr has already overtaken the film's 15 Cr production budget within the first four days. With digital rights already securing the investment and the worldwide gross standing at 21.58 Cr, the project has moved into a super-profitable zone. Ticketing momentum in national chains and digital platforms also tells a story of increasing popularity. Over 42,000 tickets were sold in national chains throughout the weekend. The momentum built up significantly from around 7,300 tickets on Day 1 to a peak of 17,000 tickets on Saturday, followed by 11,000 on Sunday. On BookMyShow, the engagement has been high, with over 1.42 Lakh tickets sold in the last 24 hours alone. The total tickets sold on the platform have now reached 399.53K, indicating a very active interest from urban audiences who are driving the multiplex numbers. Internationally, the film is finding a decent footing as well. The worldwide gross collection has reached 21.58 Cr, supported by an overseas total of 5.55 Cr. The Middle East has been a standout performer in the international circuit, grossing $140K in the first two days alone. By the end of the four-day weekend, the total India gross stands at 16.03 Cr. Given the low cost of production and the high recovery from digital rights, Blast is currently positioned as one of the most efficient commercial successes of the year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Blast - 4-Day Extended Weekend India CollectionsDAYINDIA NET COLLECTIONINDIA GROSS COLLECTIONDay 1 (1st Thursday)₹ 1.25 Cr₹ 1.43 CrDay 2 (1st Friday)₹ 2.15 Cr₹ 2.47 CrDay 3 (1st Saturday)₹ 4.55 Cr₹ 5.23 CrDay 4 (1st Sunday)₹ 6.00 Cr₹ 6.90 CrTotal Weekend₹ 13.95 Cr₹ 16.03 Cr Check Out The State-wise Gross Collection (4-Day Total): Tamil Nadu: 9.30 Cr Kerala: 2.56 Cr APTG: 2.43 Cr Karnataka: 1.60 Cr Rest of India: 0.14 Cr Overall Collection Summary: Total India Net Collection: 13.95 Cr Total India Gross Collection: 16.03 Cr Total Worldwide Gross Collection: 21.58 Cr

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is part of the popular Spy Universe, a franchise known for its connected stories and high-scale action. Being a sequel has helped the film reach a wide audience both in India and internationally. The fact that it has stayed in theaters for eleven weeks is a rare achievement for an action movie, showing that viewers are still interested in this franchise even after two months of its release. During its eleventh weekend, the film showed consistent performance across its limited show count. On Friday, Day 72, it collected a net of 0.10 Cr from 203 shows with an overall occupancy of 14 percent. Saturday, Day 73, saw a 100 percent growth as the collection rose to 0.20 Cr with 225 shows and an occupancy of 20 percent. On Sunday, Day 74, the film held its ground with another 0.20 Cr net from 233 shows, with the overall occupancy peaking at 21 percent. This steady weekend performance brought the eleventh-weekend total to approximately 0.50 Cr net, which is a solid figure for a film at this stage of its theatrical life. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The 0.50 Cr net collected over this weekend indicates a typical tapering of earnings as the film moves further into its theatrical run. Compared to the 0.83 Cr net earned during the tenth weekend, there has been a decline of approximately 40 percent in the collections. This drop is standard for a major release at this stage, especially considering the film is still maintaining over 200 shows daily across the country while competing with newer titles. In national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film sold over 3,100 tickets during the weekend. On Sunday alone, these chains accounted for approximately 780 tickets. PVR led the count with around 450 tickets, followed by INOX with 270 tickets and Cinepolis with 60 tickets. These rounded figures reflect the film's continued presence in major urban multiplexes. Digital engagement on BookMyShow also remained active, with 6.49K tickets booked on the eleventh Saturday alone, bringing the cumulative tickets sold on the platform to a staggering 1.83 crore across its entire run. Regional occupancy on Sunday was led by the National Capital Region (NCR), which recorded an 18 percent average across 59 shows, with afternoon screenings reaching as high as 31 percent. Ahmedabad maintained a 13 percent occupancy over 16 shows, peaking at 26 percent in the afternoon. These localized numbers indicate that the Spy Universe continues to find viewers in key Hindi-speaking markets, helping the film sustain its show count even as newer releases enter the fray. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The total collections for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge have now reached historic proportions. By the end of Day 74, the India net collection stood at 1,148.70 Cr. The Hindi version remains the primary contributor with 1,080.16 Cr, while the Telugu and Tamil versions have added 43.07 Cr and 19.83 Cr respectively. The India gross has climbed to 1,374.75 Cr, and with a stable overseas gross of 438.00 Cr, the total worldwide collection now stands at 1,812.75 Cr. Having managed over 5.26 lakh shows globally, the film has cemented its status as one of the biggest commercial successes in Indian cinema history. Dhurandhar 2 - 11th Weekend India Gross CollectionDAYINDIA GROSS COLLECTIONDay 72 (11th Friday)₹ 0.12 CrDay 73 (11th Saturday)₹ 0.24 CrDay 74 (11th Sunday)₹ 0.24 CrTotal 11th Weekend₹ 0.60 Cr Check Out The Language-wise India Net Collection Breakdown: Hindi: 1,080.16 Cr Telugu: 43.07 Cr Tamil: 19.83 Cr Kannada: 3.87 Cr Malayalam: 1.77 Cr Cumulative Box Office Totals: Total India Net: 1,148.70 Cr Total India Gross: 1,374.75 Cr Total Overseas Gross: 438.00 Cr Total Worldwide Gross: 1,812.75 Cr

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Akshay Kumar's Bhooth Bangla has moved into its seventh weekend with a steady performance at the box office. The film, which blends horror and comedy, has managed to maintain a consistent presence in theaters, primarily due to its appeal in the mass circuits and family audience segments. Entering Day 45, the movie continues to find an audience despite the long duration since its release, which is a testament to the genre's enduring popularity and the star's pull in the domestic market. During its seventh weekend, the film showed a typical but healthy growth pattern. Friday, or Day 43, started the weekend with a net collection of 0.55 Cr across 1,396 shows. Saturday saw a significant jump of 45.5 percent, bringing in 0.80 Cr from 1,480 shows. The momentum continued into Sunday, Day 45, which recorded the highest collection of the weekend at 1.10 Cr from 1,539 shows. This represents a 37.5 percent growth over Saturday's numbers. In total, the film added 2.45 Cr to its domestic net over these three days, showing that there is still a clear demand for the film in its late theatrical stage. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ticketing trends on digital platforms and national chains further confirm this stability. On BookMyShow, the film saw 8.11K tickets sold on Friday, which increased to 12.04K on Saturday and peaked at 16.09K on Sunday. This brings the cumulative tickets sold on the platform to over 3.35 million. In national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film sold more than 4,900 tickets over the weekend. On Sunday alone, approximately 1,200 tickets were sold in these chains, with PVR contributing 330 tickets, INOX adding 580 tickets, and Cinepolis accounting for 290 tickets. The occupancy rates on Sunday remained decent for a film in its seventh week, with an overall average of 18 percent across the country. Looking at the major regions, the National Capital Region (NCR) held 235 shows with a 19.3 percent occupancy, seeing peaks of 29 percent during the evening. Lucknow performed even better with 20.8 percent occupancy across 60 shows, reaching up to 33 percent in the afternoon. Ahmedabad also maintained a steady 15 percent occupancy over 92 shows. These numbers indicate that the film is still performing well in the northern and western belts, where the horror-comedy genre traditionally finds a strong foothold. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As of Day 45, the total India net collection for Bhooth Bangla stands at 179.35 Cr, with the total India gross reaching 212.48 Cr. The overseas market has remained stable at a total gross of 53.75 Cr, as there were no major shifts in international numbers during this specific weekend. Combined, the total worldwide gross collection has reached 266.23 Cr. Having completed over 2.36 lakh shows across its lifetime so far, the film has established itself as a significant success, maintaining a steady pace toward its final theatrical milestones. Bhooth Bangla - 7th Weekend India Net CollectionDAYINDIA NET COLLECTIONDay 43 (7th Friday)₹ 0.55 CrDay 44 (7th Saturday)₹ 0.80 CrDay 45 (7th Sunday)₹ 1.10 CrTotal 7th Weekend₹ 2.45 Cr In terms of career milestones, this film has successfully positioned itself as the third highest-grossing release for Akshay Kumar in the post-pandemic phase. It has moved past the lifetime collections of OMG 2 (₹221 Cr), Jolly LLB (₹171 Cr), and Sky Force (₹150 Cr). At present, it is ranked just behind Sooryavanshi (₹293 Cr) and Housefull 5 (₹288 Cr). While the film has climbed the charts significantly, catching up to the 288 Cr lifetime total of Housefull 5 appears out of reach at this stage of its theatrical run.The sustained demand for this specific horror-comedy blend has allowed the movie to maintain its theater count through seven weeks, marking a solid success and providing a notable entry in the actor's top-performing list since 2021.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Suriya's latest film, Karuppu, is maintaining its momentum as it moves into the third week of its theatrical run. The film offers a raw, grounded narrative that relies heavily on a high-intensity performance by Suriya, moving away from typical commercial tropes to deliver something that feels visceral. This authenticity has clearly resonated with the audience, as the occupancy rates throughout the third weekend remained consistently high, particularly in urban centers where the gritty atmosphere of the plot has found a dedicated following. It is not just about the star power anymore; the plot's ability to keep viewers engaged for seventeen days straight is the real driver behind these numbers. Looking at the specific data, the third Friday or Day 15 saw a net collection of 3.25 Cr. While this represented a 34.3 percent drop from the previous day's 4.95 Cr, the film was still playing across 3,024 shows with an overall occupancy of 22.9 percent. Regional performance on Friday remained steady, with Chennai maintaining 455 shows at a 32.8 percent occupancy rate, peaking at 43 percent during night screenings. Coimbatore followed with 157 shows at 27.8 percent occupancy. In the Telugu states, Hyderabad managed 235 shows with a 12.3 percent occupancy, while Bengaluru held 234 shows at 10.5 percent. This solid footprint across major cities set the foundation for the significant surge that followed over the next two days. Saturday witnessed a massive turnaround as the collection jumped by 58.5 percent to reach 5.15 Cr net. The total number of shows increased to 3,292, and the overall occupancy rose to 29.1 percent. By the end of Day 16, the total India net collection had reached 176.55 Cr, while the worldwide gross climbed to 281.21 Cr. The overseas market contributed 2.00 Cr on this day alone, pushing the international total to 77.00 Cr. This momentum signaled that the movie was still the primary choice for cinema-goers despite being in its third week, with the audience volume showing a healthy trend that typically suggests long-term stability. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Sunday brought in the peak performance of the weekend with a net collection of 5.90 Cr, marking a 14.6 percent growth from Saturday. The film reached its highest show count of the weekend at 3,327 shows with an improved overall occupancy of 33.1 percent. The Tamil version led the daily total with 5.20 Cr net from 2,353 shows at a 39 percent occupancy rate, while the Telugu version added 0.70 Cr from 974 shows. In national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film was a dominant force. On Sunday alone, these chains sold approximately 18,100 tickets, with PVR accounting for roughly 12,700 tickets, INOX for 4,600, and Cinepolis for 800. This pushed the total weekend ticket sales in national chains to over 57,500, outperforming all other current releases. Check Out The State-wise Gross Collection and Totals: Tamil Nadu Gross: 144.05 Cr APTG Gross: 30.61 Cr Karnataka Gross: 20.71 Cr Kerala Gross: 12.60 Cr Rest of India Gross: 3.02 Cr Total India Net: 182.45 Cr Total India Gross: 210.99 Cr Total Worldwide Gross: 289.24 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The engagement on digital booking platforms further validates this theatrical success. On BookMyShow, the film recorded 76.54K tickets on Friday, 113.6K on Saturday, and 98.61K on Sunday. The cumulative BMS sales have now reached 4.31 million, placing Karuppu in the elite tier of recent high-volume ticket sellers, trailing just behind major hits like Amaran. Internationally, the film is achieving milestones that redefine its global reach. In Malaysia, the movie has already collected RM 9.74 million and is currently on track to reach the RM 10 million mark soon. In North America, the film added 11K on Friday to reach a total of 1.34 million. By the end of Day 17, the overseas total gross stood at 78.25 Cr, which, when combined with the India gross of 210.99 Cr, brings the total worldwide collection to a massive 289.24 Cr. The consolidated impact of this third weekend reinforces the movie's status as a major draw, with the film bringing in a net of 14.30 Cr over the three days. This phase has been instrumental in solidifying the film's financial standing, especially with the international circuit maintaining a steady flow to push the total overseas gross to 78.25 Cr. By the end of Sunday, the worldwide total successfully reached the 289.24 Cr mark, proving that the movie remains a dominant force for audiences globally and is effectively sustaining interest well into its run. Karuppu - 3rd Weekend India Gross CollectionDAYINDIA GROSS COLLECTIONDay 15 (3rd Friday)₹ 3.73 CrDay 16 (3rd Saturday)₹ 5.93 CrDay 17 (3rd Sunday)₹ 6.78 CrTotal 3rd Weekend₹ 16.44 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This sustained performance has significantly reshuffled the historical box office charts in Tamil Nadu. With a state gross of 144.05 Cr, Karuppu has officially moved past the lifetime collections of Varisu to claim the ninth spot among the highest-grossing films in the state. The film has also performed exceptionally well in the APTG region, where it has crossed the 30.61 Cr gross milestone. Top 10 Highest Grossing Movies in Tamil Nadu (TamilNadu Gross): 1. The Greatest of All Time - 217.25 Cr 2. Leo - 213.62 Cr 3. Ponniyin Selvan part 1 - 212.92 Cr 4. Jailer - 189.35 Cr 5. Vikram - 180.57 Cr 6. Amaran - 157.38 Cr 7. Good Bad Ugly 2025 - 152.19 Cr 8. Coolie - 147.15 Cr 9. Karuppu - 144.05 Cr 10. Varisu - 142.54 Cr

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 31 - Tamil superstar Suriya is on cloud nine after the blockbuster success of Karuppu, and his upcoming film Vishwanath And Sons is already generating strong buzz in the trade circles. The family comedy drama is scheduled to release this August, and the latest reports suggest that the film has secured a massive theatrical and non-theatrical deal. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the Tamil media reports, Vishwanath And Sons has reportedly locked over 100 crore in non-theatrical and overseas revenue, significantly strengthening the film's financial position ahead of its arrival in cinemas. The biggest contributor to the film's pre-release business is said to be its digital streaming rights. Reports indicate that the OTT rights have been sold for a whopping 85+ crore. In recent years, OTT deals have become a crucial revenue stream for big-budget Indian films, and Vishwanath And Sons appears to have secured one of the most notable digital agreements for a Suriya starrer. Apart from the digital rights, the film has reportedly fetched 12+ crore through its music rights, while the overseas distribution rights are said to have been sold for 15+ crore, indicating strong interest in international markets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With the combined value exceeding 112 crore, the film has already recovered a substantial portion of its reported production cost of 120+ crores. With Tamil Nadu and the rest of India theatrical deals are yet to be locked, the makers are already in profit even before its big screen debut on August 14. The development also highlights the continued demand for star-driven Tamil films in the digital and overseas markets, where established actors like Suriya command considerable value. The numbers have already become a major talking point among trade observers, and if the film manages to generate strong theatrical revenues upon release, Vishwanath And Sons could emerge as a back-to-back major success for Suriya.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, May 30 - Suriya is enjoying one of the biggest box office triumphs of his career as Karuppu continues to dominate theatres across India and overseas markets. The fantasy action entertainer, directed by RJ Balaji, is marching towards a historic double milestone for the Tamil superstar at the domestic and worldwide box office. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) After 15 days in theatres, Karuppu has grossed approximately 274 crore worldwide and 134 crore in Tamil Nadu, which are already record numbers for the Singam actor. The film opened to strong collections and maintained excellent momentum through its first two weeks, putting it firmly on course to cross 300 crore globally and 150 crore in its home state. The film has emerged as the biggest Tamil hit of 2026 (so far), drawing audiences across domestic and international markets. At the time of writing this piece, it has topped 200 crores at the Indian box office, becoming the first film for Suriya to do so, as Tamil Nadu remains the film's strongest territory. With 134 crore already collected in just 15 days, Karuppu is expected to comfortably surpass the 150 crore mark in the state over the coming days. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Overseas markets have also contributed significantly to the film's success, with 75+ crores in 15 days. Combined with its robust domestic performance, Karuppu has amassed 274 crore worldwide, leaving the coveted 300 crore milestone within touching distance. Given the trend, the movie is expected to breach the milestone at the end of the third week or during the 4th weekend. The film marks the first collaboration between Suriya and RJ Balaji and has delivered the actor one of the biggest box office successes of his career. Suriya's performance, coupled with the film's blend of action, fantasy and emotional drama, has resonated strongly with audiences.