The Indian box office witnessed a dramatic shift this Friday, with Hollywood powerhouses outshining Bollywood’s fresh offerings. While three major films—‘Maalik’, ‘Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan’, and ‘Superman’—hit the big screen, it was the American superhero saga that took the lion’s share of the audience and revenue. In contrast, Bollywood struggled to find its footing, with slow openings and underwhelming figures that cast doubts on the commercial success of the newly released titles.
Maalik’s Disappointing Debut: A Stumble for Rajkummar Rao
Rajkummar Rao’s highly anticipated action-drama ‘Maalik’, which released on July 11, failed to live up to expectations. Despite Rao’s strong screen presence and a production budget pegged at ₹50 crore, the film only managed to pull in ₹3.35 crore on its opening day.
This underwhelming performance signals trouble ahead for the film’s box office journey. The tepid response can be attributed to limited pre-release buzz, average reviews, and stiff competition from both international titles and older Indian releases still going strong.
The movie’s storyline and execution failed to strike a chord with mass audiences, leaving cinemas partially filled on what should have been a booming first day.
Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan: A Meek Debut for Shanaya Kapoor
The debut vehicle for Shanaya Kapoor, ‘Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan’, struggled even harder. Directed by Santosh Singh, and featuring Vikrant Massey in a pivotal role, the romantic drama only managed to garner ₹35 lakh on day one.
Backed by a significant ₹50 crore budget, this low turnout signals a critical red flag for the film’s profitability. Despite a decent marketing campaign and a recognizable cast, the film received mixed reviews from critics, which seemingly translated into poor footfall at theaters across urban and rural circuits.
The film’s lack of novelty, combined with a stale romantic narrative, seems to have repelled cinegoers who had more thrilling options to choose from this weekend.
Superman Takes Flight: Hollywood Wins the Day
In sharp contrast, ‘Superman’, the latest entrant in the superhero franchise from Hollywood, made a powerful first impression. With a day one collection of ₹6.9 crore in India, the film dominated the Friday box office.
The film benefitted from an extensive international fan base, high production values, and the enduring appeal of DC’s most iconic character. This commanding opening reaffirms the growing popularity of Hollywood action spectacles among Indian audiences, particularly in metropolitan multiplexes where the film enjoyed near-full occupancy.
Superman’s box office triumph further underscores Bollywood’s waning influence, particularly when stacked against well-executed foreign titles.
Metro In Dinon Continues Its Strong Run
While new releases battled for attention, ‘Metro In Dinon’ continued to register steady earnings. The multi-starrer, featuring Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Ali Fazal, added another ₹2.25 crore to its total on its second Friday, pushing its cumulative collection to a respectable ₹29.10 crore.
Released on July 4, the film has shown remarkable staying power, thanks to its relatable themes, strong performances, and word-of-mouth publicity. Its opening day had yielded ₹3.5 crore, followed by a solid first-week performance of ₹26.85 crore.
This consistent earning pattern suggests that Metro In Dinon may emerge as a surprise success, especially if it maintains momentum into its third week.
Jurassic World Rebirth Dominates Second Week
Another Hollywood juggernaut making waves is ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’. Released on July 4, the film raked in a solid ₹3 crore on its second Friday, taking its total Indian collection to ₹58 crore.
The film opened with a strong ₹9.25 crore, followed by an impressive ₹55 crore haul in its first week. With state-of-the-art visual effects, thrilling storytelling, and a loyal fanbase, Jurassic World Rebirth has become a box office monster, particularly in Tier-1 cities and IMAX formats.
Its sustained earnings reflect Hollywood’s command over Indian screens, especially in genres where Bollywood still lags in scale and execution.
Bollywood’s Struggles Amid Hollywood’s Rise
This Friday paints a clear picture of audience preferences. While Bollywood’s offerings failed to generate excitement or crowd pull, Hollywood releases capitalized on their scale, familiarity, and global storytelling appeal.
With both ‘Maalik’ and ‘Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan’ falling flat despite significant investments and notable star power, it is evident that star casts and budgets are no longer enough. Indian audiences are increasingly demanding high-quality content, compelling narratives, and immersive cinematic experiences.
Conversely, ‘Superman’ and ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ capitalized on fan-driven hype and flawless execution, making them clear winners at the Indian box office.
Friday Box Office Comparison Table (July 11)
| Film Title | Opening Day Collection (₹ Crore) | Total Collection So Far (₹ Crore) | Budget (₹ Crore) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superman | 6.90 | 6.90 | 200+ (estimated) |
| Maalik | 3.35 | 3.35 | 50 |
| Metro In Dinon (Week 2) | 2.25 | 29.10 | 35 |
| Jurassic World Rebirth | 3.00 (Week 2 Friday) | 58.00 | 180+ (estimated) |
| Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan | 0.35 | 0.35 | 50 |
Audience Sentiment and Social Media Trends
A closer look at social media buzz and audience sentiment shows that Hollywood franchises are gaining organic traction online. #SupermanReturns, #JurassicWorld, and related hashtags trended heavily on Indian X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube throughout Friday.
In contrast, buzz around ‘Maalik’ and ‘Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan’ remained muted, with criticism largely focused on predictable storylines, lack of emotional depth, and poor screenplay execution.
User-generated content and influencer reviews leaned overwhelmingly in favor of international titles, driving further footfall towards them and leaving Bollywood’s new releases gasping for attention.
Conclusion: Hollywood’s Lead Grows Wider
This Friday’s numbers are a wake-up call for Bollywood filmmakers, indicating that audiences are no longer swayed by familiar faces or hype alone. Instead, Indian viewers are embracing cinematic quality, regardless of language or origin.
As ‘Superman’ soars and ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ roars, Bollywood’s ‘Maalik’ and ‘Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan’ need a miraculous turnaround in the coming days to stay relevant.
Unless word-of-mouth improves, it seems likely that Hollywood will continue to dominate Indian screens in the weeks ahead—cementing a new era where content truly is king.
