INVC NEWS
New Delhi — : The mid-week box office performance has witnessed notable shifts as several films compete for audience attention. While ‘Housefull 5’, starring Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh, continues to attract audiences, a clear dip in collections post-Tuesday signals a shifting momentum. In contrast, Kamal Haasan’s high-budget venture ‘Thug Life’ seems to be losing steam quicker than expected. Meanwhile, Rajkummar Rao’s ‘Bhool Chook Maaf’ and Hollywood’s ‘Mission Impossible 8’ continue to show resilience with consistent numbers. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the earnings on Wednesday and how each film stands in the larger picture.
‘Housefull 5’ Box Office Update: Drops from Tuesday But Maintains Strong Numbers
After delivering back-to-back blockbusters in the comedy genre, the fifth installment of the ‘Housefull’ franchise opened strong, capitalizing on fan loyalty and festive fervor. However, Wednesday’s collection saw a modest dip, signaling the first slowdown after a robust start.
Wednesday (Day 6): ₹8.2 crore
Tuesday (Day 5): ₹11.3 crore
Monday (Day 4): ₹13.9 crore
Sunday (Day 3): ₹33 crore
Saturday (Day 2): ₹31 crore
Friday (Opening Day): ₹24 crore
So far, the film has amassed ₹119.8 crore in domestic collections, maintaining a strong average despite the midweek slowdown. The film is performing particularly well in metros like Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and Bangalore. With the upcoming weekend, analysts expect the earnings to rebound past ₹150 crore in the next three days if the current trend sustains.
‘Thug Life’ Earnings Decline: A Disappointing Slide for a Dream Collaboration
One of the most anticipated Tamil-language films this year, ‘Thug Life’ brought together legends Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam after 38 years. Despite the initial buzz and nostalgic value, the film has failed to meet audience expectations, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Opening Day: ₹15.5 crore
Day 7 (Wednesday): ₹1.25 crore
Total Domestic Collection (Till Day 7): ₹42.25 crore
The sharp decline from ₹15.5 crore to ₹1.25 crore within a week suggests weak word-of-mouth and below-average repeat viewing. In Tamil Nadu, footfall has been significantly impacted due to mixed reviews and strong competition from other regional and Hindi films.
‘Bhool Chook Maaf’ Continues Its Slow but Steady March
Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi’s dark comedy ‘Bhool Chook Maaf’, released on May 23, is proving to be a sleeper hit. With a content-driven approach and word-of-mouth promotion, the film has consistently pulled audiences across urban multiplexes.
Opening Day: ₹7 crore
Weekend Collection (Days 2-3): ₹9.5 crore and ₹11.5 crore
Week 1 Total: ₹44.1 crore
Day 20 (Wednesday, Week 3): ₹0.30 crore
Cumulative Collection: ₹70.34 crore
Despite a dip in daily collections, the film has shown remarkable longevity. With limited competition in its genre, it continues to draw niche viewers and might comfortably cross the ₹75 crore mark by its fourth weekend.
‘Mission Impossible 8’ in India: Tom Cruise Still Packs a Punch
The latest installment in the franchise, ‘Mission Impossible 8’, continues to rake in steady revenue in the Indian market. Released on May 17, the film has shown great hold, particularly in the English-speaking urban demographic.
Day 26 Collection (Wednesday):
English Version: ₹0.40 crore
Hindi Dubbed: ₹0.10 crore
Total Collection in India (Till Day 26): ₹99.85 crore
Tom Cruise’s enduring star power and high-octane action sequences have played well with Indian audiences. The film is expected to cross the ₹100 crore benchmark domestically by Thursday, marking another successful Hollywood venture in India.
Comparative Earnings Snapshot: Midweek Box Office Rankings
| Film Title | Wednesday Earnings (₹ Cr) | Total Collection (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|
| Housefull 5 | 8.2 | 119.8 |
| Thug Life | 1.25 | 42.25 |
| Bhool Chook Maaf | 0.30 | 70.34 |
| Mission Impossible 8 | 0.50 (combined) | 99.85 |
This comparative chart highlights the consistency of ‘Housefull 5’ and the surprising resilience of ‘Bhool Chook Maaf’, even as ‘Thug Life’ struggles despite its massive production budget and hype.
Regional and Demographic Performance Insights
Housefull 5:
Stronghold Areas: Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad
Target Demographic: 18–35 age group, family audiences
Multiplex Advantage: Premium seating and late-night shows performing well
Thug Life:
Key Markets: Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad
Challenge Areas: Rural Tamil Nadu, Kerala border towns
Audience Sentiment: High anticipation but poor screenplay reception
Bhool Chook Maaf:
Urban Edge: Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, Jaipur
OTT Effect: Strong anticipation for post-theatrical release
Genre Appeal: Niche but loyal comedy-drama audience
Weekend Forecast and Expected Trajectories
Housefull 5 is likely to rebound during the weekend with predicted earnings of ₹12–15 crore per day.
Thug Life could fall below the ₹1 crore daily mark unless there’s an unexpected weekend surge.
Bhool Chook Maaf is predicted to hover around ₹25–30 lakhs daily, sustaining for another week.
Mission Impossible 8 will cross ₹100 crore and may extend its run to another full week in metros.
Final Thoughts: Midweek Momentum Dictates Box Office Fate
The Indian box office remains dynamic as multiple films compete across genres, languages, and audiences. While ‘Housefull 5’ leads the pack with consistent earnings, the story of the week is ‘Thug Life’s underperformance, proving once again that nostalgia and big names alone don’t guarantee success. ‘Bhool Chook Maaf’ and ‘Mission Impossible 8’ highlight how strong storytelling and global appeal continue to resonate with diverse Indian viewers.
With the weekend ahead, it remains to be seen if new releases or strong legs from these current titles will dominate the headlines. For now, all eyes remain on how these films perform in their second and third innings at the box office.
