BY SUNIT JANGIR

Los Angeles, January 2 - Netflix may have, once again, left a lot of money on the table by not giving one of its most popular series, Stranger Things 5, a proper theatrical release. The final episode of this sci-fi show was released on December 31st, with limited fan screenings across North America. In October this year, Netflix announced that the final episode of Stranger Things would be having fans screenings in the domestic market. The finale was set to screen in just over 350 theatres across the U.S. and Canada on December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, but due to increasing demand, the number jumped to 620+ theatres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Technically, there are no box office numbers for these screenings. Because of residual and distribution complications tied to TV series, theatres are charging seat reservation fees (around $20 at AMC), which are then converted into concession vouchers. So, there were no ticket sales via a traditional online platform, so the actual grosses are unknown. However, according to the trade estimated figures, over 1.5 million reservations were made for the Stranger Things finale, and with a $20 million average ticket price, or a reservation fee, it could mean at least $25 million and upto $30 million in just 1 and a half days, and that too, despite the series being availble on streamer with no extra cost. By comparison, 20th Century Studios' Avatar: Fire and Ash, the No. 1 grossing film of the season, made a combined $23.7M over New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Netflix has been a hardcore anti-cinema OTT platform, and because of its stubborn approach, trade has time and again said that the streamer has been leaving plenty of money it could have made by releasing its movies or shows on the big screens. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Six years after acquiring the rights to the Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna starrer Dear Comrade, Karan Johar's Dharma Productions is finally moving ahead with its official Hindi adaptation. According to the latest reports as of January 2026, the studio has found its lead pair in Siddhant Chaturvedi and rising star Pratibha Ranta. The project, which had been on the backburner since 2019, has been revitalized following the recent success of the leads in their respective projects. Dharma Productions is reportedly betting big on this fresh pairing. Siddhant Chaturvedi, who recently delivered a power-packed performance in Dhadak 2 (2025), is said to bring the required intensity to the role originally played by Vijay Deverakonda. Joining him is Pratibha Ranta, the breakout star of Laapataa Ladies (2024). Ranta's ability to portray deep emotional vulnerability made her the top choice for the character of Lilly, a role that earned Rashmika Mandanna significant acclaim in the original. Karan Johar famously bought the remake rights of Dear Comrade in 2019, even before the Telugu film's theatrical release, after being moved by a special screening. However, the project faced several delays. Now, in early 2026, the studio is reimagining the story to fit a Pan India sensibility. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   The official Hindi adaptation of the 2019 Telugu blockbuster Dear Comrade, originally directed by Bharat Kamma, is finally moving into production under Karan Johar's Dharma Productions.The creative vision for the film aims to preserve the raw emotional intensity and hard-hitting social commentary that defined the original, while seamlessly adapting the narrative to resonate with a contemporary audience. While the original Telugu version saw a mixed response at the box office, it eventually developed a massive cult following on digital platforms. Dharma Productions aims to replicate the slow burn success of the original but on a much larger scale in the Hindi market. With Siddhant Chaturvedi's growing popularity as a versatile leading man and Pratibha Ranta's critical acclaim, the Hindi remake of Dear Comrade is poised to be one of the most anticipated romantic dramas of 2026.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Ranveer Singh led espionage thriller Dhurandhar has achieved what was once considered impossible for a Hindi film. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has scripted history by becoming the first-ever Hindi film to cross the ₹100 crore mark in its fourth week of release. While most blockbusters exhaust their steam by the end of the third week, Dhurandhar has shown an extraordinary second wind, fueled by the New Year 2026 holidays and an unprecedented 27 day double digit streak. The film's performance in its fourth week (Day 22 to Day 28) was nothing short of a rampage. Capping off the week with a massive New Year boost, the film collected ₹ 15.75 Cr on Day 28 (4th Thursday).This surge propelled its Week 4 total to a staggering ₹ 106.5 Cr, nearly doubling the previous record held by Pushpa 2 (Hindi). Rank Movie Title Week 4 Collection (India Net) 1 Dhurandhar (2025/26) ₹ 106.5 Cr 2 Pushpa 2: The Rule (Hindi) ₹ 69.65 Cr 3 Chhaava ₹ 55.95 Cr 4 Stree 2 ₹ 36.1 Cr 5 Jawan ₹ 35.63 Cr The film ended its fourth week on a massive high. On Day 28 (4th Thursday/January 1, 2026), the New Year holiday propelled the film to an early estimate of ₹ 15.75 Cr. Remarkably, the collection on Day 28 is significantly higher than its Day 25 (₹ 10.50 Cr), a trend rarely seen in box office history. Dhurandhar 27-Day Collection Summary: India Net Collection: ₹ 739.00 Cr India Gross Collection:₹ 886.75 Cr Overseas Collection: ₹ 255 Cr Worldwide Collection: ₹ 1141.75 Cr With a worldwide total of₹ 1141.75 Cr, Dhurandhar is now rapidly closing in on the all time highest grossing Hindi films. The film's ability to stay in double digits for 28 consecutive days is a historic feat that likely won't be challenged for years to come. As it enters its 5th week, the movie remains the primary choice for audiences across India, proving that Dhurandhar is indeed the true Dhurandhar of Hindi Cinema.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, January 2 - Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar has become the highest Bollywood ticket seller on BookMyShow, after beating Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava. The spy actioner continues to rewrite history at the box office and is breaking records with each passing day. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar has sold 13+ million tickets so far on BMS, beating Chhaava, which sold 12.50+ million tickets on the platform, followed by Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan (12.40+ million) and Maddock's horror comedy Stree 2 (11.15+ million). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The biggest movie on BookMyShow is Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule, with nearly 20 million tickets, followed by Kantara Chapter and Dhurandhar. The Ranveer Singh-starrer has still enough legs left to outnumber the Rishab Shetty-starrer to emerge as the number 2 film on the platform. Dhurandhar is racing towards beating Pushpa 2's 810+ crores net collection to become the highest-grossing movie ever in the Hindi language at the domestic box office. The film has so far scored 740 crores (885+ crores gross) in 28 days, as the second biggest grosser. Worldwide, the spy actioner is nearing 1150 crores and is likely to beat Jawan's 1160 crores gross to become the biggest Bollywood blockbuster (without China) by today or tomorrow. Interestingly, it is the only single-language film to enter the 1000 crores club, which speaks a lot about its legendary box office run. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, January 2 - Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar has rewritten Bollywood box office history by achieving a landmark feat. The Aditya Dhar directorial has surpassed Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan to become the highest-grossing Bollywood film globally without any contribution from the Chinese market. Jawan, released in 2023, had concluded its worldwide theatrical run at around 1,160 crore, emerging as the biggest Bollywood grosser at the time. Dhurandhar has now gone past that figure at a much faster pace in just 29 days, setting a new benchmark for Hindi cinema. The spy action thriller has grossed nearly 900 crores at the domestic box office, while its overseas performance is no less than miraculous, with over 265 crores in 29 days so far. This historical achievement makes Dhurandhar the biggest Bollywood blockbuster to-date, as said, without China. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When it comes to overall numbers, Aamir Khan's Dangal is the biggest Bollywood as well as Indian grosser to date with 2070 crores worldwide gross. However, the film made over 1300 crores gross at the Chinese box office, which is not a regular market for Indian films. Only a very small number of Indian titles have ever managed to release there, so it is not a fair comparison. Dhurandhar has achieved its massive worldwide number without China, relying entirely on audience support from India and established international territories such as North America, Australia, and Europe. In fact, Dhurandhar wasn't even released in the Middle East due to its subject, which has reportedly led to nearly 100 crores in revenue loss to the makers. As Dhurandhar continues its theatrical run, the film's total is expected to climb even higher, further strengthening its position not just in Bollywood but also in Indian cinema's all-time box office rankings, and cementing its legacy as one of its kind global phenomena. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Despite being mounted as a massive Pan India spectacle starring Mollywood legend Mohanlal, Vrusshabha has failed to find an audience. Released in multiple languages, the film struggled to even cross the starting line across most territories, ending its first week with shockingly low numbers. Marketed as a multi language spectacle in Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada, the film struggled across all territories. Weak writing, poor visual effects, and lack of promotional buzz resulted in embarrassingly low numbers, making it one of the biggest commercial failures of 2025. Vrusshabha Total Box Office Collection Summary (7 Days) Category Collection (Approx) India Net Collection ₹ 1.64 Cr India Gross Collection ₹ 1.91 Cr Overseas Collection ₹ 0.25 Cr Worldwide Collection ₹ 2.16 Cr Verdict Disaster Until the release of Vrusshabha, 2025 was shaping up to be one of the most successful years in Mohanlal's storied career. He had delivered a rare hat-trick of blockbusters: the massive action spectacle L2: Empuraan (₹ 266.81 Cr worldwide), the crime thriller Thudarum (₹ 235.38 Cr worldwide), and the family drama Hridayapoorvam ( ₹ 76.25 Cr worldwide). Collectively, these three films grossed over ₹600 Cr, reaffirming his status as the ultimate box office draw. Vrusshabha, however, has brought this golden run to a screeching halt.With a worldwide gross of just ₹2.16 Cr in its first week, the film failed to recover even 3% of its reported ₹70 Cr budget, marking a rare and massive commercial dent in his recent track record. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   Timing played a crucial role in Vrusshabha's collapse. The film was released at the height of the Dhurandhar phenomenon, a Hindi blockbuster that was recording historic double digit collections for nearly 30 consecutive days. While Dhurandhar dominated the Pan India audience, the local Malayalam market was also split by Nivin Pauly's horror-comedy Sarvam Maya. Unlike Vrusshabha, which struggled to hit the ₹1 Cr mark on its opening day, Sarvam Maya enjoyed strong word-of-mouth and a healthy opening of ₹3.35 Cr, eventually grossing over ₹65 Cr worldwide. Caught between a global juggernaut and a local favorite, Vrusshabha found itself with almost no theatrical oxygen. Vrusshabha is an ambitious reincarnation epic spanning centuries, following Mohanlal as King Vijayendra Vrusshabha in an ancient timeline where a generational curse pits him against his own son. The conflict carries over to the modern day, where he is reborn as businessman Aadi Deva Varma (reunited with his son, played by Samarjit Lankesh). Directed by Kannada filmmaker Nanda Kishore (Pogaru, Victory), this was intended to be a massive Pan-India gamble. However, the transition into fantasy heavy storytelling failed to resonate; Audience noted that the director's vision was marred by dated execution and distracting AI driven visual effects, ultimately failing to balance its mythological roots with modern-day sensibilities.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Hindi film industry has found its ultimate Dhurandhar. The film, aptly titled Dhurandhar, has not just ended 2025 on a high note but has stormed into 2026 with an unprecedented momentum. Shattering major benchmarks, the film has achieved a feat never seen before in the history of Hindi cinema. The biggest highlight of Dhurandhar's box office journey is its incredible consistency. The film has recorded double digit collections for 28 consecutive days. This is a historic first for a Hindi film, proving that the word of mouth is exceptionally strong and the repeat audience factor is at an all time high. Despite being in its fourth week, the film refused to slow down. After a steady 4th Monday and Tuesday, the film witnessed a massive surge on its 4th Thursday (Day 28). As the calendar turned to January 1, 2026, the New Year holiday provided a significant boost, with early estimates suggesting a collection of ₹ 15.75 Cr. Interestingly, the 4th Thursday collection is significantly higher than its 4th Monday (₹ 10.5 Cr), a rarity for any film this late in its theatrical run. Dhurandhar 4th Week Box Office Collection Breakdown (India Net) Day Day Wise India Net Collection Day 25 4th Monday ₹ 10.50 Cr Day 26 4th Tuesday ₹ 11.25 Cr Day 27 4th Wednesday ₹ 11.00 Cr Day 28 4th Thursday (New Year) ₹ 15.75 Cr * Total 28 Days Total ₹ 739.00 Cr Dhurandhar is not just a domestic success; it is a global juggernaut. With an impressive ₹ 250 Cr coming from overseas markets, the film has crossed the coveted 1000-crore mark worldwide with ease. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   Total Collection Snapshot (28 Days): India Net Collection: ₹ 739.00 Cr(28 days) India Gross Collection: ₹ 867.90 Cr Overseas Collection: ₹ 250.00 Cr Worldwide Collection: ₹ 1117.90 Cr With no major competition in the immediate horizon and the New Year holiday spirit still lingering, Dhurandhar is aiming to emerge as the highest grossing Hindi film ever. It has already surpassed the lifetime collections of several all time blockbusters and is currently eyeing the top spot on the leaderboard. The film's ability to stay in double digits for nearly a month suggests that it will continue to dominate the box office throughout January 2026. Dhurandhar is a high octane cinematic spectacle that has resonated with audiences across all age groups, ending 2025 with a Big Bang and setting the gold standard for the year 2026.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, January 1 - Disney's Zootopia 2 is rewriting history for Hollywood at the Chinese box office with an extraordinary theatrical run that very few foreign films have ever managed to achieve. The animated sequel has crossed a landmark that places it in an elite club dominated by only the biggest global blockbusters. According to trade estimates, Zootopia 2 has sold over 100+ million tickets in China, making it the first Hollywood film since Titanic (1997) and only the 8th film ever to cross the 100 million admissions mark in a single market. This historic feat highlights the film's unexpected and unprecedented reach among Chinese audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The animated juggernaut has already grossed $560+ million in China, firmly establishing itself as one of the highest-grossing Hollywood films of all time in the territory. The film continues to draw massive footfalls, an extremely rare phenomenon for imported releases in recent years. The record-breaking run is particularly significant given Hollywood's recent struggles in China, where local productions have largely dominated the box office. Zootopia 2 has managed to buck that trend entirely, emerging as a cultural event rather than just a successful release. Zootopia 2 is heading towards finishing at $575+ million in China, as the second highest-grossing Hollywood title in the country after Avengers: Endgame ($632 million). At the worldwide box office, the film has topped $1.45 billion, becoming the third biggest animated film of all-time (excluding The Lion King), and the biggest-grossing Disney animated film. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, January 1 - Thalapathy Vijay's upcoming political action drama Jana Nayagan is making a strong noise at the box office even before its theatrical arrival. The film, confirmed as Vijay's final outing before his full-time political plunge, is witnessing solid traction in advance booking, especially in overseas markets. As per the latest trade reports, Jana Nayagan has hit 15 crore worldwide in pre-sales for its opening day, including premieres. In India, the film has so far collected over 3 crore, with bookings currently open only in Karnataka and Kerala. Despite the limited domestic rollout, the initial response has been encouraging, clearly indicating strong demand on the ground. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the overseas front, Jana Nayagan is putting up impressive numbers, having already grossed 11–12 crore from advance sales alone. Major contributions are coming from North America, the UK, and Australia, where Vijay continues to enjoy a massive fan following. With eight days still left before release, there is ample room for the film to further grow. A sharp spike is expected once advance booking opens in Tamil Nadu and other key Indian territories, which traditionally contribute heavily to Vijay's opening day numbers. If the current momentum sustains, Jana Nayagan is well on course to register one of the biggest opening days of Vijay's career worldwide. With hype, sentiment, and numbers all aligning in its favour, Jana Nayagan is shaping up to be a major pre-release box office force ahead of its theatrical debut. It will be released in multiple languages, including Hindi as Jan Neta on January 9. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Aditya Dhar's high-octane espionage thriller Dhurandhar has taken the global box office by storm, shattering records for Ranveer Singh. However, despite its historic collection and All Time Blockbuster verdict, the film has faced a massive financial setback in international territories. According to a verified report by Mid-day, the film has suffered a revenue loss of approximately ₹90 crore ($10.8 million). The significant deficit is attributed to the film being banned across the Middle East (Gulf countries). Overseas distributor Pranab Kapadia confirmed that the film did not receive clearance from the censor boards in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The ban reportedly stems from the film's storyline, which involves an Indian intelligence operation targeting criminal syndicates in Karachi, Pakistan. Regional censors in the Gulf perceived the content as anti Pakistan, a trend previously seen with films like Fighter and Tiger 3. Given that the Middle East is a primary market for Indian action cinema, the absence of a theatrical release there resulted in a direct hit to the film's potential international gross. While ₹90 crore is a substantial figure that would have further bolstered the film's standing, trade experts suggest the blow was partially mitigated by the December holiday season. Pranab Kapadia noted that many Indian and Pakistani residents living in the Gulf were traveling to the UK, USA, and Canada during the year-end break, where they were able to watch the film on international screens. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   In North America alone, Dhurandhar has performed exceptionally well, earning over $17.5 million, which has helped offset the losses from the Middle East. Despite the ban, the film's massive Return on Investment (ROI) and record breaking run in India ensure it remains the biggest hit of the actor director duo's career. Despite the significant financial hit in the Gulf region, Dhurandhar continues to maintain an iron grip on the box office. As of its Day 28 (4th Thursday), the film showed remarkable holding power, earning ₹15 Cr to take its total India Net Collection to a massive ₹723.25 Cr. The film's overall financial health remains exceptional, with an India Gross Collection of ₹867.9 Cr and an Overseas Collection of ₹250 Cr. This brings its total Worldwide Collection to a towering ₹1117.9 Cr, solidifying its status as an All Time Blockbuster and proving that the film's domestic and other international markets successfully compensated for the missing ₹90 crore Middle East revenue.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, January 1 - The Bollywood industry might be in for a pleasant surprise to begin 2026 as Maddock Films' war biopic drama Ikkis, which happens to be legendary late Dharmendra's last film, has taken a good start at the domestic box office, exceeding expectations. New Year's Day, being a holiday, has always drawn footfalls, and Ikkis has taken the full advantage of it despite Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar continuing to dominate the box office. Starring Agastya Nanda in the title role, the film has scored an estimated 6.75-7.25 crores net on its opening day, which is better than what pre-sales suggested. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ikkis expectedly had mid-pre-sales, which suggested 4-5 crores net start, but the holiday advantage and early positive reception have propelled the opening to much higher numbers. The opening of the film is actually better than Kartik Aaryan's Christmas release, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, which is a very good sign. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, Ikkis was originally scheduled to release on December 25, but was postponed to give it a genuine chance to perform amid the Dhurandhar wave. The decision to postpone the film seems to have paid off, and it is now all about building on the momentum. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 31 - In a major milestone and in its record-breaking journey, Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar has become the highest-grossing Bollywood film at the North American box office, after surpassing the lifetime grosses of superstar Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan. With no signs of slowing down, the Aditya Dhar's directorial has crossed $17.50 million in North America at the end of the 4th Tuesday, which took it past Pathaan's $17.49 million and made it the biggest Bollywood grosser of all-time in the region. It is now the third biggest Indian film there, behind Kalki 2898 AD ($18.50+ million) and Baahubali 2 ($20+ million). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhurandhar has made it a habit of breaking records with each passing day, and with the way it is still going, the film is certain to beat Kalki, and who, it might go on to top Baahubali 2 to become the biggest Indian blockbuster in North America. But that is still a long shot, but the film will surely be finishing at the second biggest grosser there, at least. The spy action thriller has been on a record-breaking run in most of the territories, whether it is domestic or international. It has proved to be a one of its kind phenomena, which has swept most of the daily and lifetime records, and it still hasn't done yet with so much is yet to come, including the biggest Hindi grosser of all-time at the domestic box office. Stay tuned...