The box office has seen a dramatic shift this Thursday, with high-profile films like Akshay Kumar’s ‘Kesari 2’, Sunny Deol’s ‘Jaat’, Ajith Kumar’s ‘Good Bad Ugly’, and Tamannaah Bhatia’s ‘Odela 2’ facing significant declines in their collections. The promising openings for these films have quickly turned into diminishing returns, as the numbers from Thursday are a far cry from what the industry had expected.
Let’s delve into the specifics of these films’ box office performances, examining how they fared during the midweek slump and what these figures reveal about the changing dynamics of the movie business.
‘Kesari 2’ Struggles to Maintain Momentum at the Box Office
It was supposed to be another grand success for Akshay Kumar and the team behind ‘Kesari 2’, but the film’s performance at the box office has shown signs of rapid wear and tear. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, this period drama based on the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre had audiences eager for its release. The initial projections were high, but the figures now tell a different story.
On Thursday, ‘Kesari 2’ managed to rake in just ₹3.50 crore. To put this into perspective, the film had started off strong, grossing ₹7.75 crore on its opening day, followed by ₹9.50 crore on the second day, and a peak of ₹12 crore on Sunday. However, since then, the earnings have been dropping at an alarming rate. As of today, the total collection stands at ₹46.10 crore—a far cry from the anticipated figures when the film was first announced.
Despite strong performances from Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Pandey, the midweek numbers are disappointing. The film’s failure to maintain its momentum suggests that audiences may not be as invested as initially thought, leaving ‘Kesari 2’ with a tough road ahead.
‘Kesari 2’ Box Office Breakdown:
Opening Day Collection: ₹7.75 crore
Second Day Collection: ₹9.50 crore
Sunday Collection: ₹12 crore
Thursday Collection: ₹3.50 crore
Total Earnings So Far: ₹46.10 crore
The downturn in collections suggests that the film’s appeal may have peaked too early, with little room for recovery as the competition heats up in cinemas.
‘Jaat’ Sees Rapid Decline After Initial Success
On the heels of its release on April 10, Sunny Deol’s ‘Jaat’ made waves with impressive early box office numbers. However, much like ‘Kesari 2’, the film has been unable to hold onto its audience. By Thursday, ‘Jaat’ had only earned ₹1.25 crore, marking a sharp drop from its early days. Despite making a mark with a ₹80.75 crore total, the film now finds itself struggling to maintain its grip on audiences.
‘Jaat’ Box Office Breakdown:
Opening Day Collection: ₹10 crore (estimated)
Peak Earnings: ₹18 crore
Thursday Collection: ₹1.25 crore
Total Earnings So Far: ₹80.75 crore
The film, which stars Sunny Deol alongside Vineet Kumar Singh and Randeep Hooda, has become a victim of the competitive landscape. Although it had a strong opening, the decline in collections signals a possible fatigue from moviegoers, particularly with the holiday period now behind.
‘Good Bad Ugly’ Faces an Uphill Battle
Ajith Kumar’s ‘Good Bad Ugly’ was expected to dominate the box office, but the film has seen a consistent drop in earnings. Despite a strong opening day collection of ₹30 crore, the film has been unable to keep the momentum going. On Thursday, ‘Good Bad Ugly’ earned just ₹1.25 crore, and the film’s total earnings now stand at ₹144.63 crore.
‘Good Bad Ugly’ Box Office Breakdown:
Opening Day Collection: ₹30 crore
Midweek Drop: ₹10 crore
Thursday Collection: ₹1.25 crore
Total Earnings So Far: ₹144.63 crore
While these figures are respectable, they fall short of the massive box office expectations that surrounded the film’s release. The slowdown in revenue indicates that Ajith Kumar’s fan base, while substantial, may not be enough to keep the film afloat in the highly competitive market.
‘Odela 2’ Fails to Meet Expectations at the Box Office
The sequel to the much-awaited ‘Odela’, ‘Odela 2’, starring Tamannaah Bhatia, had high expectations following the success of its predecessor. However, much like the others, this film has also been struggling at the box office. On Thursday, ‘Odela 2’ brought in only ₹29 lakh, and its total earnings are currently ₹5.03 crore.
‘Odela 2’ Box Office Breakdown:
Opening Day Collection: ₹4 crore (estimated)
Midweek Earnings: ₹1 crore
Thursday Collection: ₹29 lakh
Total Earnings So Far: ₹5.03 crore
The low earnings for ‘Odela 2’ show that the audience’s anticipation didn’t translate into ticket sales. The film’s inability to connect with viewers, coupled with the crowded marketplace, has caused it to fall behind, despite a loyal fan following for the franchise.
The Bigger Picture: Analyzing the Current Box Office Landscape
The performance of ‘Kesari 2’, ‘Jaat’, ‘Good Bad Ugly’, and ‘Odela 2’ paints a concerning picture for the state of the industry. While star power and high production values still play a significant role in drawing audiences, the film industry is undergoing a transformation. The success of a movie no longer depends solely on the presence of big names; factors like content, audience engagement, and timing have become crucial.
Changing Audience Preferences: Audiences are becoming more selective in their choices, and their attention span is shorter than ever. A film that makes an impact on the opening day may quickly fade as competing movies hit theaters.
Increased Competition: With a constant influx of new releases, even big-budget films with established stars are struggling to maintain a stronghold at the box office.
Shortened Lifespan for Films: Movies that perform well during the weekend are often facing rapid declines as the weekdays roll in, which is evident from the performance of these films.
What’s Next for These Films?
Looking ahead, these films face an uphill battle as they continue their run at the box office. The midweek slump is a worrying trend that suggests that without consistent audience interest, even the most anticipated films can falter. With newer releases on the horizon, the competition is expected to intensify, and the coming weeks will determine whether ‘Kesari 2’, ‘Jaat’, ‘Good Bad Ugly’, and ‘Odela 2’ can recover or if their box office journey will end prematurely.
The current numbers suggest a tough road ahead for these films, and it will be interesting to see how they evolve as they fight to stay relevant in a market that is increasingly difficult to navigate.
