BY CHRISTA LINCY

The buzz surrounding Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker's upcoming collaboration, Lalkaara, has taken an interesting turn with a major casting update. As reported by Bollywood Hungama, Farhan Akhtar has officially exited his acting role in the film. While fans were looking forward to seeing him share the screen with Aamir, the makers have quickly moved to fill the void by bringing in Sidhant Gupta. Sidhant has recently gained a lot of acclaim for his performance in Jubilee, and his addition to the cast brings a fresh energy to this ambitious sports drama. The reason for Farhan's exit seems to be a classic case of scheduling conflicts. Farhan is currently preparing for a highly demanding project with director Neeraj Pandey, where he will be portraying the legendary music composer R.D. Burman. Playing such an iconic figure requires extensive physical and musical preparation, which would have clashed with the requirements for Lalkaara. Since Ashutosh Gowariker's film is a sports drama that demands months of rigorous cricket training and a lengthy shooting schedule, Farhan chose to prioritize the biopic. It appears to be an amicable decision, allowing him to focus entirely on bringing the life of Pancham Da to the screen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Even though Farhan will no longer be acting in the film, he remains a key part of the project behind the scenes. He and Ritesh Sidhwani are producing the film under their Excel Entertainment banner in association with Rajkumar Hirani Films. This ensures that the production quality and creative vision remain intact. The transition has been smooth enough that the production timeline remains unaffected. Sidhant Gupta, who has previously worked in shows like Inside Edge and Freedom at Midnight, will now step into the role of one of Aamir’s friends, keeping the momentum going for the October start. Lalkaara is being described as an ambitious sports saga that takes us back to the historic 1952 India-Pakistan Test series. This was a significant chapter in cricketing history, as it was the first-ever Test series between the two nations following the Partition. The film marks the much-awaited reunion of Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker, who last worked together on the 2001 classic Lagaan. With a script written by Piyush Gupta, known for his work on Dangal and Chhichhore, and Neeraj Singh, the film aims to blend intense sporting rivalry with themes of national pride and friendship. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Aamir Khan is set to take on the role of the cricketing legend Lala Amarnath, who was the first captain of independent India. Amarnath is a towering figure in Indian sports history, and his leadership during the 1952 series is the stuff of legend. The film looks to capture the intensity of that era and the emotional weight of playing against a newly formed neighbor. With shooting scheduled to begin on October 1 in Mumbai, the team is now moving into the final stages of pre-production. The combination of historical significance, the Aamir-Ashutosh reunion, and a talented ensemble cast makes Lalkaara one of the most anticipated films on the horizon.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The landscape of Indian film music is set for a major transformation as Excel Entertainment founders Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar have officially announced the launch of their dedicated music label, Excel Music. This move marks a significant expansion for the production house, which has been behind some of the most iconic and trend-setting soundtracks in Bollywood history, from Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On!! to Gully Boy. By launching a dedicated label, Excel is looking to take complete creative control over its musical scores while also creating a platform for other independent filmmakers across India. The development is not just a solo venture; it comes with a heavyweight global backing. Universal Music Group (UMG) has joined as a strategic shareholder in the label. Beyond just being a shareholder, UMG will serve as the marketing and distribution partner for Excel Music, ensuring that the label's content has a massive reach both domestically and on international streaming platforms. This partnership suggests a high level of corporate confidence in Excel’s ability to produce hit music that resonates with a global audience. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In terms of the debut project, the label is starting with a massive brand. The first official release under Excel Music will be the soundtrack album for Mirzapur The Movie. This is a highly anticipated project as the fan-favorite franchise makes its transition from the OTT space to the big screen. The film is currently slated for a theatrical release on September 4, 2026. Given the gritty and intense musical legacy associated with the Mirzapur series, the soundtrack is expected to be a major talking point for the label's launch. Excel Music is designed to be more than just an in-house label for Farhan and Ritesh's own productions. While it will certainly be the home for all original film soundtracks and scores from the Excel Entertainment slate, the founders have clarified that the label will also release music from films produced by other leading filmmakers and production houses across the country. This positioning puts Excel Music in direct competition with established giants like T-Series, Zee Music, and Sony Music India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) For those who have followed Excel's journey, this move seems like a natural progression. The production house has always prioritized a unique sound, often blending indie sensibilities with commercial appeal. By bringing in Universal Music Group as a stakeholder, they are essentially creating a bridge between Indian cinematic music and global distribution standards. It remains to be seen how this will impact the traditional deal-making process between filmmakers and music labels, but for now, Excel Music has made one of the loudest entries into the market in recent years.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The global cinematic landscape has just witnessed a seismic shift with the launch of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. While the numbers in India have been staggering, the film's performance on the international stage is what truly establishes it as a once-in-a-generation event. The web-slinger has officially delivered the second-biggest global opening in history. With a massive $927 million worldwide debut, the film sits only behind the monumental start of Avengers: Endgame, which opened to $1.22 billion. The film has not just met its projections; it has completely obliterated the industry estimates of $455M-$535M, proving that the Spidey brand is currently at its absolute peak. One of the most interesting takeaways from this global launch is India's emergence as a top-tier market for Hollywood. India has officially cracked the Top 5 markets worldwide for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, contributing a strong $32.30 million during the opening weekend. This puts India in an elite group alongside China, which led the international markets with $123 million, followed by the United Kingdom at $50 million and Mexico at $38 million. India managed to outperform major markets like France, Korea, Brazil, and Australia, highlighting the massive growth of the superhero fan base in the country. This $32M contribution has played a pivotal role in pushing the international (overseas) gross to a spectacular $572 million. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 10 Global Markets for Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Opening Weekend)COUNTRY / MARKETCOLLECTION (USD)China$123 MillionUnited Kingdom$50 MillionMexico$38 MillionIndia$32.30 MillionFrance$27 MillionKorea$25 MillionBrazil$24 MillionAustralia / NZ$22 MillionGermany$20 MillionItaly$18 Million In the North American domestic market, the film has delivered a gigantic $355 million opening weekend. The road ahead looks incredibly promising, thanks to excellent word-of-mouth and a clear window with no major tentpoles opening for weeks; the film is set to continue its winning streak. At a minimum, Brand New Day is expected to finish in the all-time Top 3 domestic films, comfortably bumping off Spider-Man: No Way Home ($814.1M). There is even a strong possibility that it will surpass the $858.4M domestic lifetime of Avengers: Endgame for the number-two spot. Even the decade-long record of $936.7M held by Star Wars: The Force Awakens is now considered to be in serious jeopardy. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The speed at which the film is reaching milestones is another point of discussion among experts. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is likely to cross the $1 billion mark globally as early as this Wednesday. This would make it the fastest film to reach the billion-dollar mark in just 8 days, becoming the second-fastest of all time and the fastest in the post-COVID era. To put this into perspective, it has already crushed the global opening of other 2026 releases like Toy Story 5 ($312M) and has beaten the previous franchise high of Spider-Man: No Way Home ($600.8M) by a massive margin. When looking at ticket sales platforms, the dominance is equally visible. On BookMyShow, the film has achieved a level of interest that towers over other massive releases. With 5.67 million tickets sold by the end of the first weekend, it has set a benchmark that will be incredibly difficult for any film to touch in the near future. The comparison with other big releases shows the sheer scale of the Spider-Mania that is currently sweeping the market. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) BMS Ticket Sales Comparison (Opening Weekend)MOVIE NAMEBMS TICKETS SOLDSpider-Man: Brand New Day5.67 MillionAvatar: Fire and Ash1.60 MillionDeadpool and Wolverine1.44 MillionThe Conjuring1.34 MillionThe Odyssey1.20 Million

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The box office trajectory for Dhamaal 4 indicates sustained interest from family audiences even as it enters its fourth week. Dhamaal 4 has successfully navigated its fourth weekend with a series of growth spurts that have pushed its collections to a very healthy milestone. The film has now achieved a worldwide gross collection of ₹222.04 Cr. To give you a broader perspective on the numbers, the total India gross currently stands at ₹191.39 Cr, while the overseas contribution has reached a steady ₹30.65 Cr. In terms of net collections in India, the film has earned approximately ₹161.05 Cr. This performance has been achieved across a staggering 181,396 shows since its release. What is even more interesting is how the film performed specifically over this past weekend. Starting the fourth Friday (Day 22), the movie collected ₹1.15 Cr net, which was a 27.8% growth from the previous day. By Saturday (Day 23), it saw a further 43.5% jump to collect ₹1.65 Cr. The weekend peaked on Sunday (Day 24) with ₹2.35 Cr, representing a 42.4% growth from Saturday. This upward trend suggests that family audiences are still flocking to theaters on holidays. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the regional performance, we can see a tactical adjustment in show counts across the major Hindi-speaking belts. In the National Capital Region (NCR), show counts were slightly trimmed from 245 on Friday to 225 by Sunday, during which occupancy climbed from 16.8% to a much stronger 38.0%. Mumbai followed a similar pattern of consolidation, ending the weekend with 121 shows and a 34.0% occupancy rate on Sunday. In contrast, markets like Ahmedabad saw show counts remain stable, moving from 190 on Friday to 198 on Sunday, with occupancy reaching 25.0%. Overall, the Hindi (2D) version showed a clear weekend trend as national occupancy figures rose from 21.05% on Friday to 47.49% on Sunday, indicating that the film still has a steady hold in its fourth week. The ticket sales data from BookMyShow also reflects this late-stage surge. Over the fourth weekend alone, the platform saw approximately 90,430 tickets booked. Specifically, Friday saw about 20.48K bookings, Saturday reached 32.15K, and Sunday peaked at 37.8K. This brings the cumulative BookMyShow ticket sales to an impressive 2,780,630. In national cinema chains, the performance has been equally stable. PVR chains accounted for about 2,350 tickets over the weekend, followed by INOX with 2,622 and Cinepolis with 1,000. Combined, these three major chains moved roughly 6,000 tickets just over this past weekend, which is a commendable feat for a film in its fourth week. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) One of the most exciting aspects of this run is how close Dhamaal 4 is to becoming the highest-grossing film of the franchise. Currently, the record is held by Total Dhamaal, which achieved a worldwide gross of approximately ₹232.18 Cr. With its current worldwide total sitting at ₹222.04 Cr, Dhamaal 4 needs roughly another ₹10 Cr to officially dethrone its predecessor and take the top spot. Given its current momentum and the lack of major competition in the immediate comedy space, it seems highly likely that it will cross this milestone in the coming days. The overseas performance has also been a silent contributor to this success. Over the weekend, the film added about ₹0.60 Cr from international markets. While the numbers might seem small compared to the domestic haul, they have been consistent. The total overseas gross now stands at ₹30.65 Cr. The film's ability to maintain over 2,400 shows daily across India in its fourth week is a testament to its popularity and the confidence exhibitors have in its ability to fill seats. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhamaal 4 - 4th Weekend India Net Collection BreakdownDayIndia Net Collection (Approx)ShowsDay 22 (4th Fri)₹ 1.15 Cr2,389Day 23 (4th Sat)₹ 1.65 Cr2,408Day 24 (4th Sun)₹ 2.35 Cr2,4054th Weekend Net₹ 5.15 Cr 7202

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Hyderabad, August 3 - Natural star Nani's much-awaited The Paradise is staying on course for its scheduled theatrical release, putting an end to speculation surrounding a possible delay. The makers have announced that the highly anticipated teaser will be unveiled on August 6, signalling the beginning of the film's full-fledged promotional campaign. With excitement already running high, fans are eager to witness the first extended glimpse of Nani's intense new avatar in what is being billed as one of the biggest Telugu films of the year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The announcement also confirms that there is no change in the film's release plans. The Paradise is set to hit cinemas worldwide on September 24, 2026, with special premiere shows scheduled for September 23. Despite recent rumours suggesting a postponement, the production remains firmly on track, and the teaser launch further reinforces the makers' confidence in the planned release date. Directed by Srikanth Odela, The Paradise reunites the successful Dasara combination of Nani and the filmmaker. The recently released promotional material has promised viewers "1 minute and 35 seconds of madness," raising expectations for a powerful teaser packed with action, emotion, and the film's gritty visual style. Reports also suggest that the teaser will feature Nani's striking transformation as Jadal, showcasing a darker and more ferocious side of the actor than ever before. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film has been one of the most anticipated Indian releases of 2026, with its hard-hitting promotional campaign and the chartbuster track "Aaya Sher" already generating massive buzz. Backed by ambitious production values and Srikanth Odela's signature raw storytelling, The Paradise aims to deliver a grand theatrical experience. With the teaser arriving on August 6 and the worldwide release locked for September 24, the countdown has officially begun for one of the year's biggest cinematic events.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

As we wrap up the second weekend, Jana Nayagan has achieved a major milestone by crossing the ₹200 Crore gross mark in India. The film has officially achieved worldwide gross collections of approximately ₹295.92 Cr, with the India gross contributing ₹204.92 Cr and overseas markets bringing in ₹91.00 Cr. The total India net collection now stands at about ₹175.60 Cr, achieved across a massive 99,055 shows so far. This consistent performance indicates a strong hold even after the initial opening frenzy. Looking at the second weekend performance, the film showed a classic trend of consolidation followed by a significant surge. On the second Friday (Day 9), the film collected a net of approximately ₹3.55 Cr across 4,165 shows. This represented a 12.3% drop from the previous day, which is expected as the film enters its second week. However, the momentum shifted dramatically on Saturday (Day 10), with the net collection jumping to ₹7.80 Cr, a staggering 119.7% growth. Sunday (Day 11) saw further improvement with a 37.2% growth, collecting about ₹10.70 Cr net across 4,321 shows. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) State-wise gross numbers tell a story of regional dominance. Tamil Nadu remains the primary fortress for the film, contributing the lion's share of the collections. On Sunday alone, Tamil Nadu grossed ₹10.00 Cr, while other regions like Karnataka and the Rest of India also showed healthy participation. The cumulative state-wise performance for the second weekend is captured in the detailed table below. Jana Nayagan - State-wise Gross Collection (2nd Weekend)DayAPTGTamil NaduKarnatakaKeralaRest of IndiaTotalDay 9₹ 0.05 Cr₹ 3.25 Cr₹ 0.27 Cr₹ 0.20 Cr₹ 0.35 Cr₹ 4.12 CrDay 10₹ 0.10 Cr₹ 7.50 Cr₹ 0.50 Cr₹ 0.35 Cr₹ 0.60 Cr₹ 9.05 CrDay 11₹ 0.15 Cr₹ 10.00 Cr₹ 0.75 Cr₹ 0.50 Cr₹ 1.00 Cr₹ 12.40 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Occupancy rates during the weekend were particularly impressive in major cities. Chennai remains a top performer, with Sunday occupancy hitting a high of 77.8% across 458 shows. Coimbatore was even stronger, recording an 81.0% occupancy rate. Even in Bengaluru, despite more competition, the film managed a solid 49.3% occupancy. The overall Tamil (2D) occupancy on Sunday was approximately 61.38%, showing that the core audience is still very much engaged with the film. The ticket sales data from BookMyShow further cements the film's success. By the end of the second weekend, Jana Nayagan sold approximately 4.06 million tickets on the platform, ranking it among the top performers like Jailer and Leo. During the second weekend specifically, Friday saw about 124K bookings, Saturday rose to 181K, and Sunday recorded 142K bookings. In national cinema chains, the film moved over 60,000 tickets during the week. Total footfalls for the second weekend reached approximately 1.24 million, with tracked footfalls excluding block seats standing at 914,920. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the international front, the overseas performance has been steady. According to Venky Box Office the film grossed about $17K in North America on Saturday, bringing its total there to $1.52M (approximately ₹12.75 Cr). Globally, the overseas market contributed ₹8.00 Cr over the second weekend, pushing the total overseas gross to ₹91.00 Cr. From a linguistic perspective, while Tamil is the main driver, the Hindi and Telugu dubbed versions have also contributed to the cumulative totals. The Hindi net collection stands at approximately ₹15.25 Cr, while the Telugu net has reached about ₹8.90 Cr. The language-wise cumulative net performance is detailed in the list below. Tamil Net: ₹ 151.45 Cr Hindi Net: ₹ 15.25 Cr Telugu Net: ₹ 8.90 Cr Jana Nayagan - India Net Collection (2nd Weekend Breakdown)DayIndia Net Collection (Approx)ShowsDay 9 (Friday)₹ 3.55 Cr4,165Day 10 (Saturday)₹ 7.80 Cr4,202Day 11 (Sunday)₹ 10.70 Cr4,321Total India Net₹ 175.60 Cr12651

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Spider-Mania has effectively taken over the global box office, and it is not just a trend anymore; it is a historic movement. If you have been tracking the frenzy surrounding the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, you will know that expectations were sky-high. However, the actual performance over the first four days has managed to go even beyond what analysts predicted. The film has created a massive wave across the globe, especially in India, where the web-slinger has always enjoyed a massive fan base. This success is not just about nostalgia but reflects how a well-crafted cinematic experience can bring audiences back to the big screen in record-breaking numbers. In a major milestone for Hollywood in India, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially crossed the ₹200 Crore net mark within its opening weekend. On its fourth day, which was a Sunday, the film collected approximately ₹77.75 Cr. This is a significant jump from Saturday, representing a healthy growth of about 8.2% from the previous day's net of ₹70.25 Cr. These are staggering numbers when you consider the sheer volume of shows. On Sunday alone, the film was playing across 18,051 shows in the country. This brings the total India net collection to approximately ₹256.20 Cr, with the gross collection standing at ₹306.37 Cr so far. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When we put this into context with previous records, the performance is even more impressive. Usually, the top spot for Hollywood opening weekends in India was a toss-up between the Avengers and Avatar franchises. However, Spidey has now comfortably taken the lead. While Avengers: Endgame collected ₹158.65 Crore over three days and Avatar: The Way of Water managed 157.13 Cr, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has reached a massive ₹308.50 Cr in its four-day extended weekend. This establishes it as the undisputed leader for Hollywood openings in the Indian market. If you look at how the audience is choosing to watch the film, there is a clear preference for the 3D format. The occupancy data over the last four days clearly shows that the English 3D version consistently outperformed the 2D version. On the opening day, 3D occupancy stood at approximately 56.58% compared to 50.78% in 2D. This gap continued throughout the weekend. By Sunday, the 3D version reached an overall occupancy of about 72.56%, while 2D was slightly lower at 69.92%. It seems moviegoers are prioritising the immersive experience that the premium 3D format offers, even with higher ticket prices. The cumulative average occupancy for the 3D version over the weekend sits at a strong 62% To give you a more detailed look at how the audience is choosing to experience the web-slinger's latest adventure, the tracked data for the English versions reveals a massive gap between formats. The English 3D version has seen a tracked gross of approximately 3,303,814, with footfalls reaching 1,948,328 (excluding block seats). In contrast, the English 2D version recorded a tracked gross of about 654,633 with footfalls at 393,824. These numbers clearly highlight that for a visual spectacle of this scale, the 3D format is the overwhelming favourite among fans, moving nearly five times the volume of the standard 2D version. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The ticket sales data further reflects this dominance. On BookMyShow, the film sold a total of approximately 5.67 million tickets by the end of the first weekend. To break it down, the pre-sales alone accounted for 2 million tickets. Thursday saw about 900K bookings, Friday about 920K, and Saturday peaked at 1.07 million. Sunday added another 770.66K tickets. This total of over 5.6 million tickets puts it far ahead of other recent blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash or Deadpool and Wolverine. In the national cinema chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the story was the same. Over 20.3 Lakh tickets were sold across these chains for the opening weekend. Saturday alone saw approximately 5.17 Lakh tickets sold in these chains, followed by a strong Sunday with 4.33 Lakh tickets. According to tracking data from Venky Box Office, the film is performing like a juggernaut in North America as well. It is currently tracking towards a Sunday gross of $87M to $89M. This is an extraordinary hold that is blowing all industry expectations out of the water. Depending on the final numbers from Sony, the domestic opening weekend in the US is expected to be reported at a minimum of $358M. On Saturday alone, the film grossed about $99M in North America, bringing its domestic total to $267M at that point. It is incredibly close to the all-time Saturday record held by Avengers: Endgame, falling short by only a small margin. At this point, an all-time opening record is almost confirmed, and it will likely come down to just a few million dollars when the final tallies are in. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On a global scale, the numbers are truly mind-boggling. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has achieved worldwide gross collections of approximately ₹8,850.00 Cr. Out of this, the overseas markets have contributed a massive ₹5,460.00 Cr, while the India gross stands at ₹308.50 Cr. This has been achieved across a total of 69,906 shows worldwide. It is rare to see a film maintain such high occupancy and show counts simultaneously across different continents, but the Spidey brand has clearly resonated universally. The regional performance in India also shows a very balanced contribution across languages. While the English version is the primary driver, the Hindi market has shown immense strength. On Sunday, the English version brought in ₹41.00 Cr with 67% occupancy, but the Hindi version saw a massive 95% occupancy, collecting ₹29.50 Cr. The South Indian markets also contributed significantly, with Tamil and Telugu versions adding a combined total of ₹7+ Cr on Sunday alone. This multi-language success is what has pushed the cumulative net total so high in such a short time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Spider-Man: Brand New Day - India Net Collection (First 4 Days)DAYINDIA NET COLLECTION (APPROX)SHOWSDay 1 (Thursday)₹ 60.60 Cr17,250Day 2 (Friday)₹ 49.35 Cr16,902Day 3 (Saturday)₹ 70.25 Cr17,703Day 4 (Sunday)₹ 77.75 Cr18,051Total Net₹ 257.95 Cr69,906 Here is the cumulative language-wise breakdown for the first four days in India: English: ₹ 141.85 Cr (Avg Occupancy: 58.5%) Hindi: ₹ 91.50 Cr (Avg Occupancy: 94.3%) Tamil: ₹ 12.75 Cr (Avg Occupancy: 67.6%) Telugu: ₹ 11.30 Cr (Avg Occupancy: 52.6%) Malayalam: ₹ 0.32 Cr (Avg Occupancy: 43.8%) Kannada: ₹ 0.23 Cr (Avg Occupancy: 17.6%) Note: Sunday estimates are subject to change based on actual collection.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 2 - Tom Holland's Spider-Man: Brand New Day has delivered an unprecedented performance at the Indian box office, becoming the first Hollywood film to storm past the 300 crore gross mark in its opening weekend. After creating history with the biggest opening day ever for a non-Indian film, the Marvel blockbuster witnessed phenomenal growth over the weekend, cementing its status as one of the biggest theatrical events ever seen in the country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's extraordinary run has also mirrored its global success, where it has emerged as one of the biggest opening weekends in box office history with $927 million, the second biggest opening weekend in history. After grossing around 72.50 crore on Thursday and crossing 130 crore in just two days, the film exploded on Saturday with an 84 crore gross, the biggest single day ever for a Hollywood release in India, battering its own record. On Sunday, the superhero movie witnessed another marvellous hold, grossing around 85-90 crores, which has pushed the four-day opening weekend beyond the 300 crore gross milestone, an achievement that was unimaginable for an international release just a few years ago. The spectacle has dominated every major market, with exceptional business in English and Hindi versions. The release has also outperformed several major Bollywood blockbusters in terms of opening weekend collections, highlighting the undisputed popularity of Marvel films in India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Globally, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has rewritten record books with the second-biggest worldwide debuts ever. The film has registered the second-largest North American opening weekend in history with $355 million, trailing only Avengers: Endgame, while delivering massive numbers across international markets. With exceptional word of mouth and no signs of slowing down, the Marvel blockbuster is now expected to continue its sensational run in India and could soon challenge the highest lifetime collections ever achieved by a Hollywood release in the country.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 2 - The North American box office has achieved a historic milestone, delivering the biggest weekend of all time as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, and a strong lineup of holdover releases combined to generate an extraordinary $434 million across all films during the July 31-August 2 weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) It marks only the second time in history that the domestic (North America) market has crossed the $400 million mark in a single weekend, signalling a remarkable resurgence for theatrical exhibition. Leading the charge was Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which debuted with a sensational $355 million opening weekend, the second-biggest opening weekend ever behind only Avengers: Endgame, as per estimates. The Marvel blockbuster also set a new all-time opening day record with $168 million on Friday, while Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey continued its phenomenal run by adding $51 million in its third weekend, becoming one of the strongest-holding event films in recent years. The historic $434 million frame comfortably surpassed the previous record of $402.1 million, established during the opening weekend of Avengers: Endgame in April 2019. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) It also eclipsed the weekends led by Avengers: Infinity War ($314.8 million), Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($313.2 million), and the iconic "Barbenheimer" phenomenon of July 2023, which generated $311.3 million. The record-breaking weekend underscores the continued power of premium theatrical experiences when major event films arrive together. With Spider-Man: Brand New Day expected to dominate for weeks and The Odyssey displaying exceptional staying power, Hollywood has delivered one of the most memorable weekends in box office history. The final numbers may be higher than $434 million, as Spider-Man: Brand New Day is expected to lend around $360 million, which will be known by tomorrow.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 2 - The trailer of Ramayana Part 1 has emerged as a massive global success, generating unprecedented buzz ahead of the film's theatrical release. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the epic has captivated audiences with its breathtaking visuals, grand scale, emotional storytelling, and stellar cast. Featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, the film has quickly established itself as one of the most anticipated Indian releases of 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The overwhelming excitement is clearly reflected in the trailer's digital performance. Within just 48 hours of its release, the Ramayana Part 1 trailer has crossed 350 million views across all platforms, making it one of the biggest trailer launches ever for an Indian film. The trailer has also generated millions of likes, comments, and shares, with audiences praising its world-class visual effects, production design, and Hans Zimmer's powerful musical score. Released on July 30, the trailer introduced audiences to the film's spectacular world while showcasing the lead characters for the first time. Ranbir Kapoor's calm and divine portrayal of Lord Rama has received widespread appreciation, while Yash's intense transformation as Ravana has become one of the biggest talking points. Sai Pallavi has also earned praise for her graceful performance as Sita. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Although the response has been positive, many fans were disappointed that Sunny Deol's Hanuman was not featured, with reports suggesting the makers are intentionally keeping the character under wraps. Backed by a massive vision and one of Indian cinema's strongest ensembles, Ramayana Part 1 is scheduled to release worldwide during the Diwali 2026 festive season, with Ramayana Part 2 already slated for Diwali 2027. After the trailer's extraordinary response, expectations for the film have reached new heights, with many trade observers predicting the epic could emerge as one of the biggest box-office blockbusters in Indian cinema history. Also starring Ravie Dubey as Laxman, Arun Govil as Dasharatha, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpankha, and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, among others, the film is produced by Prime Focus Studios in association with Monster Mind Creations. It will be released by Sony Pictures internationally and Dharma Productions in India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 2 - Marvel and Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues its historic run at the Indian box office. After delivering the biggest opening ever for a Hollywood film and maintaining a sensational hold on Friday, the Tom Holland starrer exploded yet again on Saturday. The film grossed an extraordinary 82–84 crore, registering the biggest single-day collection ever for a non-Indian film at the Indian box office. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With Saturday's phenomenal performance, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has grossed around 215 crore in just three days across India. The superhero blockbuster is now on track to challenge the 300 crore gross mark over its extended four-day opening weekend, a feat that would have been unimaginable for a Hollywood release just a few years ago. The film's exceptional occupancy across premium formats and strong family audience turnout continue to fuel its record-breaking run. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has achieved a major milestone of its own. The epic drama has now become the maverick filmmaker's highest-grossing film ever in India, surpassing the lifetime collections of Oppenheimer (157 crores gross). Despite facing unprecedented competition from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the film has continued to attract audiences, underlining Nolan's immense popularity among Indian moviegoers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In 16 days so far, the Matt Damon-fronted epic has grossed around 172 crores, and is now heading towards the 200 crores milestone. The Indian box office is witnessing its biggest weekend ever for Hollywood cinema. While Spider-Man: Brand New Day is rewriting every imaginable opening record with its unprecedented collections, The Odyssey has cemented its place in history as Christopher Nolan's biggest Indian blockbuster. Together, the two films have demonstrated the growing strength of Hollywood event cinema in India, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day now poised to set yet another benchmark by targeting a staggering 300 crore four-day opening weekend, which will not only be a record for a Hollywood title, but will also be among the biggest at the Indian box office.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has reached a staggering milestone in its theatrical run, crossing the 4 million ticket mark on BookMyShow. This achievement reflects the immense pull the film has across the Indian audience, especially as it heads into its first full weekend. The data suggests that the momentum is not just holding but actually accelerating significantly compared to its opening Friday. Looking at the hourly trends from Saturday, it is clear that the movie is witnessing a major weekend surge. Every single hour from early morning has seen a substantial jump in bookings compared to the previous day. For instance, between 1 pm and 2 pm, the platform recorded 60,800 tickets sold, which is a sharp increase over the 43,130 tickets sold during the same window on Friday. This pattern continued throughout the afternoon and evening, with the 7 pm to 8 pm slot peaking at over 63,000 tickets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The total volume of tickets booked from 6 am to 8 pm today stands at approximately 6.44 lakh. When compared to the 5.12 lakh tickets sold during the same period yesterday, there is a clear growth of about 25 percent. This jump is particularly impressive given that the opening day itself was historic. It indicates that the film has moved beyond the initial fan-driven rush and is now attracting a broad range of moviegoers through positive word of mouth. Perhaps the most significant record on the horizon is the 1 million ticket mark within a 24-hour window. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently on track to become the first Hollywood film since August 2023 to achieve this feat on BookMyShow in India. Selling over a million tickets in a single day is a rare benchmark that only a few major blockbusters manage to touch, further cementing its status as a top-tier cinematic event. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The hourly bookings reached their highest peak today between 7 pm and 8 pm, with 63,410 tickets sold on the platform. This consistent volume throughout the afternoon and evening has kept the cumulative total well ahead of yesterday's pace. Given this steady performance, the Saturday collections are expected to closely match the opening day figures. With the Sunday surge still to follow, the film remains on track to set a notable benchmark for Hollywood releases in India.