BY SACNILK TEAM

Ready for the ultimate holiday binge-watch? While the Christmas lights are twinkling outside, the real magic is happening on your screens. If your holiday plans involve staying in and escaping into new worlds, the week of December 22 to December 28 is basically a gift that keeps on giving. From the epic final battle in the Upside Down with Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 to Bob Odenkirk's high-octane return in Nobody 2, the streaming giants are going all out. Whether you want to witness a star-studded survival struggle in Eden (hello, Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas!), get spooked by the animatronics in Five Nights at Freddy's 2, or get emotional with Kate Winslet's directorial debut Goodbye June, there is something for every mood. OTT Releases This Week Dec 22, 2025 Nobody 2  Action,Thriller Jio Hotstar Language:English Running Time: 1h 29m IMDB Rating: 6.3/10 View Box Office Collection→ In Nobody 2 , former assassin Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) takes his family on a vacation to the town of Plummerville to repair their fractured relationships. Their peace is shattered when they clash with a corrupt sheriff (Colin Hanks) and a sadistic crime boss (Sharon Stone), forcing Hutch and his equally lethal family members into a brutal showdown at a booby-trapped amusement park. Despite the chaos, the family successfully dismantles the criminal empire, leaving Hutch to finally enjoy a brief moment of quiet with his loved ones. Dec 23, 2025 100 Nights of Hero Action,Adventure Prime Video-Rent Language:English Running Time: 1h 32m IMDB Rating: 6.4/10 Limited Theatrical Release 100 Nights of Hero is a historical fantasy romance based on Isabel Greenberg's graphic novel. To save her mistress Cherry (Maika Monroe) from a cruel wager made by her husband, the maid Hero (Emma Corrin) must distract a persistent suitor (Nicholas Galitzine) for 100 consecutive nights. Mimicking Scheherazade, Hero weaves a series of enchanting stories that stall the seduction, ultimately leading to a defiant queer romance and a subversion of the world's patriarchal laws. Dec 23, 2025 Eden Thriller,Adventure Netflix Language: English Running Time: 2h 9m IMDB Rating: 6.5/10 Limited Theatrical Release Directed by Ron Howard, Eden is a historical survival thriller based on the true 1930s Galapagos Affair.The film follows three groups of European settlers—led by Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney, and Ana de Armas who flee post-WWI society to start a utopia on the remote island of Floreana. Their dream of a new life quickly collapses into a brutal struggle for power, leading to psychological warfare, betrayal, and mysterious disappearances as they realize the island's greatest threat is each other. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dec 23, 2025 Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Supernatural horror Prime Video-Rent Language: English Running Time: 1h 44m IMDB Rating: 5.5/10 View Box Office Collection→ One year has passed since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Former security guard Mike has kept the truth from his 11-year-old sister, Abby, concerning the fate of her animatronic friends. When Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy, she sets into motion a terrifying series of events that reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy's. Dec 23, 2025 Strange Harvest Supernatural,Horror Hulu Language:English Running Time: 1h 35m IMDB Rating: 6.4 Limited Theatrical Release Strange Harvest: Occult Murder in the Inland Empire is a 2024 horror mockumentary styled as a true-crime documentary. It follows two detectives hunting Mr. Shiny, a serial killer whose ritualistic murders in Southern California are tied to a cosmic prophecy and a rare planetary alignment. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dec 24 , 2025 Goodbye June Christmas drama Netflix Language: English Running Time: 1h 54m IMDB Rating: 6.9/10 Limited Theatrical Release Goodbye June is a poignant family drama, Kate Winslet's directorial debut, focusing on four estranged adult siblings forced to confront their messy relationships and family dynamics when their matriarch, June (Helen Mirren), faces a serious health crisis just before Christmas, exploring themes of loss, legacy, and unresolved conflict as they gather at her hospital bedside (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dec 26 , 2025 Snitch Drama,Sci-fic Lionsgate Play Language: English Running Time:1h 52m IMDB Rating: 6.4/10 At 18 years old, Jason receives a mandatory 10-year prison sentence after being caught with a package that contained illegal drugs, although he was unaware of its contents. His father, businessman John Matthews (Dwayne Johnson), is devastated. When Jason turns down a chance to lessen his sentence by manufacturing evidence to implicate someone else, John begs to be sent under cover instead, but the already dangerous venture turns deadly after he exposes a major player in the Mexican drug trade. Dec 25 , 2025 Happy and You Know It Documnetary HBO Max Language: English Running Time:1h 18m IMDB Rating: NA Direct OTT Release Directed by Penny Lane and executive produced by Bill Simmons, Happy and You Know It is a 2025 documentary exploring the high-stakes, billion-dollar world of children's music. The film provides a quirky and darkly funny look at the artists behind global hits like Baby Shark, examining how these performers shape the minds of the next generation. Dec 26 , 2025 Bugonia Dark Comedy Peacock Language: English Running Time: 1h 59m IMDB Rating: 7.5/10 View Box Office Collection→ Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia is a sci-fi dark comedy centered on Teddy (Jesse Plemons), a conspiracy-theorist beekeeper who kidnaps a pharmaceutical CEO, Michelle (Emma Stone), believing she is a shapeshifting alien planning Earth's destruction. Most of the film is a tense psychological battle in a basement, where Teddy subjects Michelle to bizarre rituals to neutralize her. The story concludes with a massive twist: after Teddy kills himself in a suicide bombing to stop her, it is revealed that Michelle actually is an alien empress. Viewing humanity as a failed, violent experiment, she uses her technology to instantly wipe out the human race, leaving only nature—and Teddy's bees—behind. Dec 26 , 2025 Cover-Up Documnetary Netflix Language: English Running Time: 1h 55m IMDB Rating: 7.5/10 Limited Theatrical Release This political thriller provides a deep dive into the 50-year career of legendary investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, chronicling his exposure of major U.S. government secrets and war crimes, including the My Lai massacre, Watergate, and the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. Other versions include a 1949 film noir, a 1991 action-thriller starring Dolph Lundgren, a 1984 TV series about spy-photographers, and a 2008 legal drama about a suspicious death in a small town. Dec 26 , 2025 The Life of Chuck Sci-fic, Fantasy Hulu Language: English Running Time: 1h 51m IMDB Rating:7.3/10 View Box Office Collection→ Directed by Mike Flanagan and based on Stephen King's novella, The Life of Chuck tells the life story of Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) in reverse order. It begins with the literal end of the world, which is revealed to be the internal universe of Chuck as he dies of a brain tumor at age 39. Moving backward through a joyful moment of spontaneous street dancing and ending with his childhood raised by his grandparents Dec 25 , 2025 Horror, Fantasy Netflix Series: Stranger Things volume 2 Language:English,Tamil, Telugu, Hindi No Of Episodes:3 tranger Things Season 5, Volume 2, focuses on the epic final battle against Vecna, with the Hawkins crew launching an all-out offensive into the Upside Down, while Eleven teams up with her sister Kali, and Will's deep connection to the Upside Down proves crucial as Vecna uses kidnapped Hawkins children as "perfect vessels" to reshape reality, leading to a massive, cinematic finale with longer episodes and higher stakes for a world-ending threat. Dec 26, 2025 Action, Fantasy Netflix Series: Cashero Language:English,Korean, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi No Of Episodes: 8 Cashero is a new K-drama about Kang Sang-woong (Lee Jun-ho), a low-level civil servant who gains superpowers tied to the cash he holds, becoming super strong with more money but losing it with every heroic act, forcing him to choose between saving people and his own finances, as he teams up with other everyday heroes to fight a villainous organization. It's a relatable, financially-focused take on the superhero genre, blending action, comedy, and social commentary. Dec 28 , 2025 Spy,Thriller Jio Hotstar Series: The Copenhagen Test Language:English No Of Episodes: 8 The Copenhagen Test is a high-stakes sci-fi thriller following Alexander Hale (Simu Liu), an intelligence analyst who discovers his vision and hearing have been hacked by an unknown entity. Forced into a "performative" existence to avoid alerting the hackers, he must navigate a world where his agency has constructed a fake reality around him—including a scripted relationship with an operative (Melissa Barrera). Trapped between a shadowy enemy and his own untrustworthy handlers, Hale must uncover a global conspiracy while struggling to distinguish what is real. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dec 22 , 2025 Animation Netflix Series: Carl the Collector Language:English No Of Episodes: NA Carl the Collector is an animated PBS KIDS series that follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted raccoon on the autism spectrum who lives in the vibrant world of Fuzzytown. Known for his extraordinary attention to detail and love for collecting unique items—from fake mustaches to bottle caps—Carl uses his vast collections and logical thinking to help his neurodiverse group of friends solve problems. The series, created by Zachariah OHora, explores social-emotional themes like empathy, self-advocacy, and inclusion, illustrating that there is no right or wrong way for a brain to work Dec 22 , 2025 Comedy, Drama Netflix Series: Sicily Express Language:English No Of Episodes: NA Sicily Express is a five-part fantasy-comedy series starring the comedic duo Ficarra and Picone. The plot follows two Sicilian nurses working in Milan who discover a magical dumpster that acts as a teleportation portal, allowing them to commute instantly between the two cities. As they attempt to balance their professional lives in the North with their family lives in the South, their secret scheme escalates into a national incident involving the police and the Prime Minister, satirically highlighting the cultural divide and the struggles of Italian labor migration. /* ---------- OTT Section ---------- */ .ott-section { font-family: "Nunito Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.5px; line-height: 1.7; max-width: 960px; margin: 20px auto; padding: 20px; background: #fafafa; border-radius: 12px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.06); } .ott-section * { font-style: normal !important; } .ott-section h2 { font-size: 1.8rem; margin-bottom: 18px; color: #222; border-bottom: 2px solid #e6e6e6; padding-bottom: 10px; font-weight: 600; } /* ---------- Card ---------- */ .ott-card { position: relative; background: #fff; border-radius: 12px; padding: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; box-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05); } /* ---------- Date pill ---------- */ .ott-date { position: absolute; top: 18px; right: 18px; background: linear-gradient(90deg,#3b0078,#5b2b99); color: #fff; padding: 6px 14px; border-radius: 20px; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap; box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); font-style: normal !important; } /* ---------- Grid: Poster + Meta ---------- */ .ott-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 150px minmax(0, 1fr); gap: 20px; align-items: start; } .ott-poster-wrap { display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: flex-start; } .ott-poster { width: 150px; height: 210px; border-radius: 10px; object-fit: cover; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); margin-top: 18px; transition: transform 0.18s ease; } .ott-poster-wrap:hover .ott-poster { transform: translateY(-3px); } /* ---------- Meta ---------- */ .ott-meta { display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: flex-start; align-items: flex-start; } /* Title */ .ott-title { font-size: 1.4rem; font-weight: 700; margin: 0 0 10px 0; } .ott-title a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; font-style: normal !important; } /* Pills / Tags */ .ott-tags { display: flex; gap: 8px; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-bottom: 10px; align-items: center; } .genre-pill, .ott-pill { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 6px; padding: 6px 12px; border-radius: 999px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; text-align: center; min-width: 110px; height: 32px; } .genre-pill { background: #f7e9e9; color: #d6336c; } .ott-pill { background: #e9f0ff; color: #1f4f91; } .ott-pill img { width: 20px; height: 20px; object-fit: contain; border-radius: 3px; } /* Info section */ .ott-info p { margin: 4px 0; font-size: 1rem; color: #444; font-style: normal !important; } .ott-info strong { color: #222; } /* Synopsis */ .ott-desc { margin-top: 16px; font-size: 1rem; color: #555; line-height: 1.6; text-align: justify; font-style: normal !important; } /* Box office / links */ .ott-links a { color: #5b2b99; text-decoration: none; font-weight: 600; font-style: normal !important; } /* ---------- Responsive ---------- */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .ott-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 14px; } .ott-poster { width: 180px; height: 250px; margin-top: 0; } .ott-poster-wrap { justify-content: center; } .ott-meta { text-align: center; align-items: center; } .ott-title { text-align: center; } .ott-tags { justify-content: center; } .ott-desc { text-align: left; } .ott-date { top: 10px; right: 10px; } }

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 23 - Ranveer Singh-fronted Dhurandhar has once again topped Allu Arjun's action drama Pushpa 2 - The Rule before the deadline ends, by becoming the biggest third week grosser at the Hindi box office in just 4 days. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy action thriller has minted approximately 111.75 crores net in just 4 days of the third week, outgrossing the entire third week collection of Pushpa 2, which minted 103 crores net in Hindi in December last year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Earlier, Dhurandhar had recorded the biggest second week also in just 5 days, showing a trend like no other film in Indian cinema history. The movie continues to exceed expectations, defying the trade projections by a margin. In 18 days so far, the film has scored 572 crores net, which is the highest of the year in Hindi. Dhurandhar has already become the highest-grossing Indian film of the year at the overseas and worldwide box office. So far, it has grossed over 875 crores in 18 days and is expected to cross the 900 crore mark by the end of the day, followed by the 1000 crore mark, mostly over the Christmas weekend. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 22 - It has been more than a decade since James Cameron's Avatar franchise kicked off in 2009, and it still carries that fire when it comes to the box office as the latest instalment - Avatar: Fire and Ash just broke the bank at the worldwide weekend box office. The third film in Cameorn's planned 5-part sci-fi epic has one of the biggest openings for a 2025 title, even when it couldn't match the opening of its predecessor - Avatar: Way of Water. Touted as the darkest chapter of the franchise yet, Fire and Ash delivered a worldwide opening weekend of $347.30 million. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Avatar: Fire & Ash has had the third biggest global opening of 2025, behind only Zootopia 2 ($560.30 million) and China's animated title Ne Zha 2 ($431.20 million). In comparison to the other Avatar movies, the latest instalment lands in between Avatar ($232 million) and Avatar: Way of Water ($441.70 million). The film's domestic (North America) opening weekend lended at $89.20 million, which took a big dip from Way of Water's $134.10 million launch but better than the original Avatar's $77 million debut. Overseas, the film minted $258.10 million, against Way of Water's $307.60 million. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) China was the biggest international market for the film in its opening weekend, with $57.6 million, followed by France with $21.4 million, and Germany with $18 million. In India, the sci-fi epic debuted with $9.2 million (82+ crores gross) over the 3-day weekend, which is a good collection but significantly down from Way of Water's 157 crore gross opening weekend. Avatar films are known for their longevity at the global box office, and the trade is already on the job to understand how far it can go. While the trade is ruling out the $2 billion club, the movie is still expected to make $1.5+ billion worldwide, which is roughly 4x its budget. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 22 - Director Aditya Dhar's spy action thriller Dhurandhar has shattered a major record by becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of the year at the overseas box office, beating superstar Rajinikanth's gangster action drama, Coolie. The Ranveer Singh-starrer has been a word-of-mouth sensation, not just in India but also internationally. The film has grossed approximately 186 crores overseas through the third Sunday (17 days), outgrossing Coolie's entire overseas run of 180.50 crores and becoming the number 1 Indian blockbuster. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The trade was bullish on the film, but it didn't expect it to become this big internationally. Dhurandhar started on a decent note, but became a beast after word of mouth spread like wildfire. The film is now heading towards the 200 crore mark and will be the first 200 crore overseas grosser for Ranveer Singh. Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, Dhurandhar is also set to become the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 at the worldwide box office by today. It has minted 845+ crores gross in 17 days, just behind Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1, which minted around 852 crores gross globally earlier this year. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Aditya Dhar's espionage thriller Dhurandhar is no longer just a domestic blockbuster; it has officially become a global phenomenon.In a historic first for Indian cinema, the Ranveer Singh starrer has secured a spot in the Global Box Office Top 5 for three consecutive weekends, standing tall alongside Hollywood titans like Avatar and Disney’s Zootopia. While several Indian films have broken into the global Top 10 for a single weekend, Dhurandhar has displayed unprecedented legs internationally.Its third-weekend performance saw it holding the #5 spot worldwide, despite facing the massive release of James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash. While Indian films often make a splash in their opening weekends, Dhurandhar has shown unprecedented staying power. It has held its ground against major Hollywood releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Zootopia 2. Dhurandhar Global Rankings: 1st Weekend: #5 2nd Weekend: #3 3rd Weekend: #5 Global Top 5 (Weekend: Dec 19–21, 2025): Avatar: Fire and Ash – $345 M Zootopia 2 – $91 M David – $22.11 M The Housemaid – $19.16 M Dhurandhar – $16.04 M Data Source: Comscore (Verified as of Dec 22, 2025) With a worldwide gross now standing at ₹ 847 Cr, Dhurandhar will breach the ₹1000 Crore Worldwide mark before the New Year, cementing Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh's status as a powerhouse duo in the Pan-World era of Indian cinema.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 22 - One of the most successful film franchises, Drishyam, is returning for the possibly final chapter as Bollywood star Ajay Devgn has officially announced Drishyam 3 on December 22 amid the months of speculation. Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay Salgaonkar in Drishyam 3, which has been in the news ever since the second part was released in 2022. Director Abhishek Pathak returns to helm the third film, which has already commenced filming recently. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Apart from Ajay Devgn, the original ensemble star cast, including Tabu, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor, and other celebrated actors, will be seen in Drishyam 3, which has been confirmed to hit the big screens on October 2, 2026, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Presented by Star Studio18, the Panorama Studios production is written by Abhishek Pathak, Aamil Keeyan Khan, and Parveez Shaikh. Reportedly, the film will be different from the original Malayalam version of Drishyam 3, for which the shoot has already completed. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December — Director Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar, headlined by Ranveer Singh, has scripted history at the worldwide box office. The high-octane spy action thriller has become the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 worldwide, outperforming Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 (852 crores gross). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhurandhar's extraordinary theatrical run has pushed its worldwide gross beyond 850 crore in 17 days, cementing its position at the top of the 2025 box office charts. With robust footfalls in India and a phenomenal response in overseas markets, the film has shown rare consistency, registering strong weekday numbers even after record-breaking weekends. In India, the Aditya Dhar directorial has benefited from repeat audience turnout, backed by extremely positive word of mouth. It has performed exceptionally well in both mass and multiplex centres, and the trend suggests it is unlikely to stop anytime soon. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Overseas, Dhurandhar has delivered one of the strongest performances ever for a Hindi-language action thriller. Markets such as North America, the UK, and Australia have played a crucial role in pushing the film past every other film. It is the highest-grossing Indian title of the year at the overseas box office. The milestone marks a defining moment for actor Ranveer Singh as well as for director Aditya Dhar, whose vision and scale have translated into both critical appreciation and box office dominance. With its sustained run and minimal drop-offs, Dhurandhar is now eyeing the next major benchmark, which is 1000 crores global haul. As 2025 draws to a close, Dhurandhar stands tall as the undisputed box office king of the year, redefining the commercial potential of Indian action cinema on the global stage. With upcoming films unlikely to make this much, Dhurandhar will finish the year as the biggest Indian grosser of the year. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 22 - Telugu veteran actor Nandamuri Balakrishna's much-anticipated sequel Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, which was released amid a big hype in Telugu states, has failed to make any impact at the Hindi box office, turning out to be a massive disaster in the North Indian market. Despite strong pre-release hype in Telugu states and the success of the first Akhanda, the Hindi-dubbed version of the sequel was a non-starter and ended up as one of the biggest dubbed sequels. The film opened to extremely low numbers in Hindi circuits, with collections remaining negligible throughout its short theatrical run. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) After the release of Akhanda in 2021, the film generated hype with its limited theatrical run and on OTT, presumably setting the base for a sequel to stand a real chance to perform at the Hindi box office. However, due to delayed release and Dhurandhar phenomena, Akhanda 2 found negligible audience in North India. Directed by Boyapti Srinu, Akhanda 2 has always wrapped up its Hindi theatrical run with daily collection falling below 1 lakh. In 10 days so far, action drama has grossed around 85 lakh, heading towards finishing under 1 crore in Hindi. Reportedly, the makers spent 2-3 crores on print and publicity of the film in the Hindi belt, which the movie has failed to recover. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A major reason behind the poor performance is the lack of connect with the Hindi audience. While Balakrishna enjoys a cult following in Telugu states, his brand of high-octane mass cinema has struggled to translate into success in North India. Negative reviews and word of mouth further dented the film's prospects, leading to sharp drops in collection. The disappointing Hindi performance stands in stark contrast to the film's expectations, especially considering its grand scale, heavy budget, and sequel factor. Even in the all-India context, despite crossing the 100 crores mark, Akhanda 2 has underperformed relative to its cost, making recovery almost impossible for distributors. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Today, December 22, 2025, marks a massive milestone for the Rebel Star Prabhas and the dystopian world of Khansaar. It has been exactly two years since the storm of Salaar: Part 1 Ceasefire hit the big screens, and the makers have celebrated the occasion by sharing a powerful anniversary poster that has set the internet on fire. Taking to social media, Hombale Films shared a special poster featuring Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran to commemorate the second anniversary. The production house accompanied the post with a stirring message that looks back at the madness unleashed in 2023: 2 years ago, a storm was unleashed. The world witnessed #Salaar in full fury. Fuelled by your love, the journey marches on… The next chapter unfolds with Shouryaanga Parvam. #Salaar2 This official update has effectively debunked recent rumors suggesting the project was shelved, confirming that the war is very much alive and preparing for its next phase. 2 YEARS since the madness of #SalaarCeaseFire stormed cinemas worldwide.And even now, the rage, the #Salaar spirit, remains unstoppable.Forever grateful for all the love ❤️‍🔥The war begins soon with #Salaar2 ⚔️#2YearsForSalaarReign #Prabhas #PrashanthNeel @PrithviOfficial… pic.twitter.com/XL3yBIYgiP— Hombale Films (@hombalefilms) December 22, 2025 In 2023, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire redefined the high-octane action genre in Indian cinema Directed by Prashanth Neel, the film's dark-themed world-building and the intense brotherhood between Deva and Varadha captured the imagination of the audience worldwide. Salaar: Part 1 emerged as a true box office juggernaut: India Nett Collection: ₹406.45 Crore (All Languages) Worldwide Gross: ₹617.75 Crore Opening Day Record: It shattered records with an opening day global gross of over ₹158.10 Crore, proving the massive pull of the Prabhas-Neel combination. Even two years later, the Salaar spirit remains unstoppable, with the film continuing to maintain a solid recall among fans as they celebrate Prabhas as their rebel icon. While the primary focus is celebrating the two-year reign of the first part, the makers have teased that the war begins soon for the sequel.Titled Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryaanga Parvam, the second installment is set to delve deeper into the political intrigue and the fierce battles for the throne of Khansaar. Reports suggest that director Prashanth Neel had already completed a portion of the sequel's shoot during the production of Part 1.With this anniversary update, anticipation has reached a fever pitch as fans wait for the full-fledged filming to resume.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

This Christmas, movie lovers are in for the ultimate treat as nine massive films from across the country are all set to hit the big screen on the same day. From Kartik Aaryan's romantic vibes to Mohanlal's epic fantasy and Kichcha Sudeep's high-octane action, December 25th is going to be a total cinematic carnival. 1. Anaconda (English/Multi) Director: Tom Gormican Cast: Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton Sony Pictures' meta-reboot is the surprise wild card. Unlike the 1997 original, this is a horror-comedy about a film crew trying to make a movie about a giant snake, only to find one. The humor is expected to pull massive urban youth audiences. 2. Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri(Hindi) Director: Sameer Vidwans Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, Jackie Shroff Kartik Aaryan's return to the romantic genre after his action streak in 2024. This Dharma Productions film is a modern-day take on soulmates. The album is already a viral hit on Spotify, ensuring a huge opening in the North belt. 3. Sirai (Tamil) Director: Suresh Rajakumari Cast: Vikram Prabhu, LK Akshay Kumar, Anishma Anilkumar This survival thriller is Vikram Prabhu's 25th film. The story revolves around a prison break and a constable's struggle to keep his humanity. It's expected to perform exceptionally well in B and C centers of Tamil Nadu. 4. Retta Thala (Tamil) Director: Kris Thirukumaran Cast: Arun Vijay (Dual Role), Siddhi Idnani Arun Vijay plays a protagonist and an antagonist in this high-octane crime thriller. With music by Sam CS, the Arun Vijay action brand is currently at its peak after the trailer went viral for its raw action choreography. 5. Mark (Kannada) Director: Vijay Kartikeyaa Cast: Kichcha Sudeep, Shine Tom Chacko, Naveen Chandra Sudeep plays SP Ajay Markandeya in this 18-hour ticking-clock thriller. Filming wrapped on Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru, after 110 days of intense work. It marks the second collaboration between Sudeep and Kartikeyaa after Max. 6. 45 (Kannada) Director: Arjun Janya Cast: Shivarajkumar, Upendra, Raj B Shetty Verified Buzz: Possibly the biggest multi-starrer in Sandalwood history. Director Arjun Janya's debut is a philosophical action drama. The combination of Shivarajkumar and Upendra is guaranteed to set the Karnataka box office on fire. 7. Shambhala (Telugu) Director: Ugandhar Muni Cast: Aadi Saikumar, Archana Iyer, Ravi Varma A mystical thriller centered on ancient secrets and a comet strike. Following the Hanu-Man trend, this film is banking on VFX and spiritual elements to capture the family audience in the Telugu states. 8. Sarvam Maya (Malayalam) Director: Akhil Sathyan Cast: Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Janardhanan Nivin Pauly returns to the comedy genre with this horror-satire. Early screenings suggest it's a laugh-riot with a hidden social message, making it Mollywood's primary festive choice. 9. Vrusshabha (Malayalam/Telugu) Director: Nanda Kishore Cast: Mohanlal, Roshan Meka, Shanaya Kapoor The largest Pan-Indian production in this list. Mohanlal plays a dual-timeline role in this fantasy epic. It is being released in over 4,000 screens globally, targeting the highest worldwide opening for any December 2025 release.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Indian box office has a new member in its most prestigious club. Aditya Dhar's spy-action spectacle Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, has officially crossed the ₹500 crore nett milestone at the domestic box office. Reaching this target on its 16th day, it has become the fastest outright Bollywood film to do so, surpassing the previous record held by Jawan (18 days). This achievement cements 2025 as a historic year for Indian cinema, contributing three blockbusters to the all-time Top 13 list. Below is the official list of Indian films that have surpassed ₹500 crore in nett collections (All Languages) in India, ranked by their release timeline: Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) – ₹1,030.42 Cr KGF: Chapter 2 (2022) – ₹859.70 Cr RRR (2022) – ₹782.20 Cr Pathaan (2023) – ₹543.09 Cr Jawan (2023) – ₹640.25 Cr Gadar 2 (2023) – ₹525.70 Cr Animal (2023) – ₹553.87 Cr Kalki 2898 AD (2024) – ₹646.31 Cr Stree 2 (2024) – ₹597.99 Cr Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024) – ₹1,234.10 Cr Chhaava (2025) – ₹601.54 Cr Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1 (2025) – ₹622.43 Cr Dhurandhar (2025) – ₹555.5 Cr* Note: Dhurandhar is still in its theatrical run; figures are as of Dec 22, 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The emergence of the ₹500 crore nett club signifies a major shift in the Indian film industry, highlighting the growing dominance of Pan India blockbusters. Currently, the list is led by Bollywood (Hindi Cinema) with 7 films, featuring massive hits like Pathaan, Jawan, Gadar 2, Animal, Stree 2, and the recent 2025 sensations Chhaava and Dhurandhar. This resurgence of Hindi cinema is complemented by the powerhouse performances of Tollywood (Telugu Cinema), which contributes 4 films including the legendary Baahubali 2, RRR, Kalki 2898 AD, and the record-breaking Pushpa 2: The Rule. Rounding out the elite group is Sandalwood (Kannada Cinema) with 2 films, KGF: Chapter 2 and the latest prequel Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1, proving that rooted, regional storytelling can achieve unprecedented national success. In terms of pure box office dominance, Pushpa 2: The Rule remains the undisputed king of the domestic market, holding the highest record with a staggering India nett collection of ₹1,234.10 Cr. It also set the benchmark for speed, becoming the fastest film in history to reach the 500-crore mark, doing so in just 11 days. The year 2025 has already proven to be a golden era for Indian cinema, witnessing a historic surge where three films—Chhaava, Kantara Chapter 1, and Dhurandhar—entered the club in a single year, matching the high-performance record set in 2023.

BY SACNILK TEAM

2025 has been the year of the Pan India Reality Check. The Hindi audience has become ruthless embracing authentic rooted stories like Kantara with open arms while coldly rejecting generic mass actioners, even those starring heavyweights like Pawan Kalyan and Kamal Haasan. While Rishab Shetty emerged as the undisputed king of the Hindi box office this year, other highly anticipated projects like Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie and Suriya's Retro posted numbers that fell short of their astronomical pre release hype.From folklore to gangster dramas, here is the ultimate report card of how South Indian films performed in the Hindi belt this year. Movie Industry Hindi Net Collection Kantara: Chapter 1 Sandalwood ₹223.79 Cr Coolie Kollywood ₹37.23 Cr Game Changer Tollywood ₹32.93 Cr Mirai Tollywood ₹16.86 Cr Baahubali: The Epic Animation ₹6.94 Cr HIT: The Third Case Tollywood ₹4.11 Cr Kannappa Tollywood ₹3.98 Cr Lokah: Chapter 1 Mollywood ₹3.78 Cr They Call Him OG Tollywood ₹3.36 Cr L2: Empuraan Mollywood ₹2.59 Cr Thug Life Kollywood ₹1.70 Cr The Girlfriend Tollywood ₹ 0.60 Cr Madharasi Kollywood ₹0.50 Cr Retro Kollywood ₹ 0.49 Cr Daaku Maharaaj Tollywood ₹ 0.40 Cr Hari Hara Veera Mallu Tollywood ₹ 0.33 Cr Bad Girl Kollywood ₹0.06 Cr 1. Kantara:Chapter 1 Industry:Sandalwood (Kannada) Director:Rishab Shetty Star Cast:Rishab Shetty,Rukmini Vasanth
 The prequel to the 2022 divine blockbuster Kantara shattered ceilings. Delving deeper into the origins of the Panjurli Daiva during the Kadamba era, the film offered a visual spectacle that was both raw and grandiose. The Divine climax once again became a cultural talking point, driving repeat audiences in Maharashtra and the Hindi belt. It stands as the only true All Time Blockbuster from the South in Hindi this year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) 2. Coolie Industry:Kollywood (Tamil) Director:Lokesh Kanagaraj Star Cast:Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir.
 The union of Thalaivar Rajinikanth and director Lokesh Kanagaraj was expected to set the screens on fire. A stylish gangster drama involving a gold-smuggling syndicate, the film had massive hype. However, the Hindi numbers (₹ 37.23 Cr) suggest it played more to the gallery of existing fans rather than breaking out to the neutral Hindi audience like Vikram or Jailer. 3.Game Changer Industry:Tollywood (Telugu) Director:S. Shankar Star Cast:Ram Charan, Kiara Advani.
 Coming off the global high of RRR, Ram Charan teamed up with the showman Shankar. While the film's political theme resonated in the South, the Hindi audience found the narrative slightly dated. ₹ 32.93 Cr is a respectable total but falls short of the expectations set for a Ram Charan and Shankar collaboration. 4.Mirai Industry:Tollywood (Telugu) Director:Karthik Ghattamaneni Star Cast:Teja Sajja, Ritika Nayak. 
The surprise package of the year. After HanuMan, Teja Sajja cemented his position with Mirai. Based on the legend of Ashoka's 9 secret books, this Super Yodha film connected well with kids and families, earning nearly ₹ 17 Cr purely on concept strength without a Tier-1 star. 5. Baahubali:The Epic Industry:Pan India (Re-release/Edit) Director:S.S. Rajamouli Star Cast:Prabhas,Anushka Shetty
 To celebrate the franchise's legacy, the makers released a special Single Film edit of the two part saga with remastered visuals.While die hard fans turned up, the ₹ 6.95 Cr collection proves that the audience prefers new content over nostalgia trips in theaters. 6. HIT:The Third Case Industry:Tollywood (Telugu) Director:Sailesh Kolanu Star Cast:Nani, Srinidhi Shetty.
 Nani entered the HIT universe as Arjun Sarkar. While the film was a critical success in Telugu, the dark, gritty thriller genre has a limited ceiling in the Hindi dubbed market unless backed by massive marketing, reflected in its niche ₹ 4.11 Cr collection. 7. Kannappa Industry:Tollywood (Telugu) Director:Mukesh Kumar Singh Star Cast:Vishnu Manchu,Preity Mukhundhan (Cameos: Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal).
 Despite a star-studded lineup of cameos including Prabhas and Akshay Kumar, this mythological drama starring Vishnu Manchu failed to generate buzz in the Hindi belt, collecting a meager ₹ 3.98 Cr. 8. Lokah:Chapter 1 - Chandra Industry:Mollywood(Malayalam) Director:Dominic Arun Star Cast:Kalyani Priyadarshan, Naslen, Sandy. 
Malayalam cinema's ambitious entry into the superhero genre! Starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, the film was praised for its VFX and unique world-building. For a Malayalam film without a traditional Mass Hero, earning ₹ 3.78 Cr in Hindi is a positive sign of growth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) 9.They Call Him OG Industry:Tollywood (Telugu) Director:Sujeeth Star Cast:Pawan Kalyan, Priyanka Mohan.
 The biggest shocker of the list. Pawan Kalyan's gangster drama, despite featuring Emraan Hashmi as the antagonist, crashed in Hindi with just ₹ 3.36 Cr. It highlights that Pawan Kalyan's stardom is still strictly regional compared to peers like Prabhas or Allu Arjun. 10. L2:Empuraan Industry:Mollywood (Malayalam) Director:Prithviraj Sukumaran Star Cast:Mohanlal, Manju Warrier,Prithviraj. The sequel to Lucifer. While a massive blockbuster in Kerala, the complex political drama of Empuraan proved too dense for the mass Hindi audience, collecting just ₹ 2.59 Cr. 11. Thug Life Industry:Kollywood (Tamil) Director:Mani Ratnam Star Cast:Kamal Haasan, Trisha Krishnan,Silambarasan TR.
 The reunion of legends Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan after decades was a cinematic event, but sadly, only for Tamil Nadu. The Hindi version was a non-starter (₹ 1.7 Cr), proving that Class Classics rarely translate to Mass Hindi Box Office. 12.The Girlfriend
 Industry:Tollywood (Telugu)
 Director:Rahul Ravindran
 Star Cast:Rashmika Mandanna, Dheekshith Shetty.
 
A solo lead thriller by Rashmika Mandanna. While she is a National Crush, the film's niche subject matter restricted its appeal, leading to a washout in the Hindi dubbed version.
 13.Madharasi
 Director:A.R.Murugadoss
 Star Cast:Sivakarthikeyan, Vidyut Jammwal.
 
Despite being directed by A.R.Murugadoss (known for Ghajini) and starring Vidyut Jammwal (a known face in Hindi), this film was a disaster in Hindi. It seems the audience has moved past the 2000s style of commercial filmmaking.
 14.Retro Industry:Kollywood (Tamil) Director:Karthik Subbaraj Star Cast:Suriya, Pooja Hegde.
 Also known as Suriya 44, this stylish actioner by Karthik Subbaraj was expected to be Suriya's big theatrical comeback in Hindi. The shocking collection of less than ₹ 50 Lakhs indicates a complete failure in marketing or release strategy in the North. 15.Daaku Maharaaj
 Industry:Tollywood (Telugu)
 Director:Bobby Kolli
 Star Cast:Nandamuri Balakrishna, Bobby Deol

 Even the presence of Bobby Deol (fresh off Animal fame) couldn't save this Balakrishna mass entertainer in Hindi. The over the top action style of NBK clearly has zero takers in the Hindi belt in 2025.
 16. Hari Hara Veera Mallu
 Industry:Tollywood (Telugu)
 Director:Krish Jagarlamudi,Jyoti Krishna
 Star Cast:Pawan Kalyan, Bobby Deol.
 
A delayed period drama that felt stale upon arrival. With collections of just ₹33 Lakhs, it stands as a significant commercial underperformer for a star of Pawan Kalyan's stature.
 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) 17.Bad Girl Industry:Kollywood (Tamil) Director:Varsha Bharath Star Cast:Anjali Sivaraman.
 A small budget coming of age drama produced by heavyweights like Vetrimaaran. While critically acclaimed in festivals, it was virtually non-existent at the Hindi box office. Ultimately, 2025 will be remembered as the year the Hindi market transitioned from being a star reliant territory to a landscape defined by audience discernment. The staggering gap between Kantara (₹223 Cr) and generic mass entertainers highlights a significant shift in viewer preferences. When highly anticipated projects featuring legends struggle to gain traction while a rooted folklore thriller creates history, the trend is undeniable.The era of blind loyalty to formulaic tropes is fading, making way for a new chapter of content supremacy.