BY SACNILK TEAM

From the bloody battlegrounds of Animal to the gritty spy world of Dhurandhar, Bollywood is witnessing a clash of titans. The box office has turned into a battlefield, and we are absolutely living for it! With Ranveer Singh's latest spy-thriller Dhurandhar hitting the screens, comparisons with Ranbir Kapoor's 2023 monster hit Animal were inevitable. Both films are A-rated, violent, have lengthy runtimes crossing the 3.5-hour mark, and feature our favorite superstars in their most intense avatars yet. But who won the numbers game, and what is the secret sequel news that has left the industry shook? Let's dive into the verified figures. Let's talk straight facts regarding the box office performance. While Ranveer Singh has roared back to form, Ranbir Kapoor's Animal still holds the crown for the biggest Adults Only opening weekend. The Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial was a tsunami at the box office back in 2023, raking in a massive Rs 201.53 Crore (India Net) in its opening weekend. It set a benchmark for A-rated cinema that is proving hard to beat. On the other hand, Aditya Dhar's spy-universe saga has posted a solid total of Rs 103 Crore (India Net) in its first 3 days. While Dhurandhar has crossed the coveted Rs 100 Cr mark in record time for Ranveer, it trails behind the beastly performance of Animal by roughly 50%. However, trade experts are noting that for a spy-thriller genre without the mass masala hype of Animal, these numbers are still fantastic. For those who don't know, Animal didn't just start big; it finished as a box office juggernaut. The film went on to collect a staggering India Net Collection of Rs 553.87 Cr, with the India Gross Collection standing at Rs 660 Cr. The craze wasn't just limited to India; the movie raked in Rs 255 Cr from overseas markets, pushing its total Worldwide Collection to a colossal Rs 915 Cr. These are the mammoth benchmarks that Dhurandhar will be aiming to chase in the long run. It is worth noting that while Animal rode on Ranbir Kapoor's solo alpha energy, Dhurandhar brings a massive ensemble to the table. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film stars heavyweights like Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, and Arjun Rampal, making it a collective powerhouse of acting. Despite the difference in opening numbers, both films share a similar DNA of testing the audience's endurance with raw, unfiltered violence and long storytelling formats. As widely speculated before the release, the film's end-credits officially confirmed that the story is far from over. Validating the pre-release buzz about a two-part saga, the makers announced that the sequel, titled Dhurandhar 2: Revenge, is all set to release on March 19, 2026. This confirms that director Aditya Dhar shot both installments back-to-back, allowing for an exceptionally short waiting period between chapters. With the sequel arriving just four months after the first part, it is clear that this spy universe was designed as a rapid-fire franchise from day one. We are undoubtedly in a golden era of action cinema where superstars are pushing boundaries like never before. While Ranbir Kapoor redefined the crime-drama genre with his raw intensity, Ranveer Singh is now carving his own niche with a calculated, high-stakes spy universe. With a confirmed sequel around the corner for the latter and a massive universe building up for the former, the stage is set for a long-term battle for supremacy.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 7 - Director Aditya Dhar returned with a bang after 6 years with Dhurandhar, which has exploded at the global box office, delivering one of the most impressive opening weekends of the year. The spy-action thriller has not only exceeded trade expectations but also delivered a career best worldwide launch for actor Ranveer Singh. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Inspired by the incredible true events, Dhurandhar hugely benefited from all the chatter around it, as it off to over 150 crores worldwide opening weekend. In India, the film has demonstrated extraordinary pull, minting 123+ crore gross, driven by packed shows in major metros and strong turnout in Tier-2 and Tier-3 circuits. With word-of-mouth remaining solid and action entertainers traditionally showing good legs, the domestic performance is expected to maintain momentum through the week. Overseas as well, the performance has been solid. The film has collected an estimated 34.50 crore gross, with North America leading the charge with an estimated $2+ million debut. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The opening also makes this the biggest debut of Ranveer Singh's career, surpassing the numbers of Padmaavat and Simmba. For director Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar stands tall as a monumental achievement with record opening. It is his only second directorial, including URI: Surgical Strike (2019), which was a big blockbuster. With early trends extremely positive, Dhurandhar is poised to continue its blockbuster run in the coming days, raising anticipation about how high the film can soar in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 7 - Disney's buddy cop comedy Zootopia 2 continues its phenomenal run in China, grossing huge $116 million in the second weekend and becomes only the second Hollywood film ever to cross $400 million in the market and is now behind only Avengers: Endgame ($632 million) to become the number 1 non-Chinese title. The animated sequel has surpassed the lifetime grosses of The Fate of the Furious ($393 million) on Saturday itself to become the second biggest Hollywood movie in China. Through the second Sunday, it has already grossed $431 million in 12 days. Trade is projecting it to reach $500 million by next weekend, reducing the gap to Engame. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's extraordinary reception, driven by strong nostalgia and family appeal, has pushed it into the record books. It entered its second week with remarkable momentum, displaying minimal drops across weekdays. It has resonated strongly with audiences of all ages, giving it one of the best word-of-mouth trajectories for an animated release in the region. As the film continues to hold strongly, it is being projected that Zootopia 2 may add several more millions to its already staggering total. While crossing Endgame appears to be a wait-and-watch situation, the sequel's astonishing performance has already set new benchmarks for animated films. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 7 - National award-winning actor Dhanush finally has his first 100 crores net grosser at the domestic box office as his romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein, co-starring Kriti Sanon, has breached this major milestone on its second Sunday. Directed by Anand L Rai, the intense love story is looking to score around 6.75-7 crores net on its 10th day, which takes its total domestic haul to 100 crores net collection. The Hindi version has scored an estimated 95 crores net, while the Tamil version has minted 5 crores through the second Sunday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Tere Ishk Mein has done well in the second weekend despite the arrival of Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar, which has clearly dominated the weekend with over 75% market share. The positive word of mouth for Rai's directorial ensured the movie stayed afloat and unlocked a major box-office milestone. As said, TIK is the first 100 crores net grosser for Dhanush, whose previous record holder was A-rated action thriller Raayan, which managed to hit around 95 crores net across languages. Interestingly, the actor delivered his career-best grosser in a Hindi film, which is not his regular or primary language. TIK is only his third Bollywood theatrical movie after Raanjhanaa (2013) and Shamitabh (2015). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Tere Ishk Mein is being hailed for its intense narrative, chartbuster music and Dhanush's performance, which continues to receive widespread praise, while Kriti Sanon's role has been highlighted as one of her best, and their chemistry is being highlighted as one of the major factors behind the film's big success. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 6 - One of the highest-grossing films of all-time, Marvel Studios Avengers: Endgame is making its return to the big screen, ahead of Avengers: Doomsday release on December 18 next year. Originally released in 2019, the beloved Marvel epic will be re-released in theatres on September 25, 2026. The studio, however, didn't confirm whether it will be a worldwide or just a domestic (North America) re-launch, or how long the window will be. Directed by the Russo Brothers, who are also directing Doomsday, Endgame was a global phenomenon back in 2019. It stormed the box office everywhere it got released and eventually became the highest-grossing movie ever with $2.79 billion for some time before James Cameron's Avatar ($2.92 billion) reclaimed its spot. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Avengers: Endgame was the culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 3, and it proved to be the most emotional outing for Marvel fans for many reasons. The film bid goodbye to Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, as well as Chris Evans' Captain America, and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, who later featured in the character's spin-off in 2021's Black Widow. The trio has been one of the major reasons behind the MCU's global success. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. has returned to the MCU with Doomsday, but not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom, who is the main villain of the next saga. Currently in production, Doomsday will feature many notable MCU stars, including Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Letitia Wright as Black Panther, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki, among many others. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 6 - Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar is showing excellent momentum at the box office, continuing the strong pre-release buzz. The spy actioner opened to a superb response, collecting approximately 27 crore net on opening day, marking one of the biggest starts for a Bollywood film in 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The opening day collection reaffirmed audience curiosity for high-octane action cinema and signalled a promising weekend ahead. On Saturday, positive word of mouth came into play, which quickly translated into sharp growth. While morning shows began on a steady note, occupancies picked up rapidly from noon onward, with several centres registering impressive jumps. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Multiplexes and single screens both saw superb growth, showcasing the film's broad appeal among urban and mass audiences alike. As per early estimates, Dhurandhar has scored an excellent 30–32 crore net on Day 2, delivering a fantastic Saturday performance. The strong hold and upward trend suggest that viewers are resonating with the film's scale, action sequences, and Ranveer Singh's high-energy portrayal. This kind of second-day growth is often a key indicator of strong acceptance among the audiences. With two days bringing in around 57–59 crore net, Dhurandhar is now on track for a solid 90 crores net (+/-) opening weekend. If the current trajectory continues on weekdays, the spy thriller could emerge as one of Ranveer Singh's biggest commercial successes to date. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Following the sudden postponement of Nandamuri Balakrishna's highly anticipated film, Akhanda 2, fans were left disappointed by the indefinite delay. Now, in a new development, a report suggests that the film's streaming partner, Netflix, is pushing for a new, strategic release date. The makers of the film, 14 Reels Plus, announced the delay just hours before its scheduled premiere. In a statement, they apologized to the fans, citing unexpected circumstances. We've tried our absolute best to bring Akhanda2 to the big screens, but despite our tireless efforts, sometimes, the most unexpected things happen, and unfortunately, this is that time,the production house stated. It was later reported that the delay was due to legal and financial issues, which led to a stay on the film's release. Despite the setback, the makers concluded their statement with a powerful promise, assuring fans that the film will hit its mark whenever it arrives and that a new date is coming very soon. While the delay was a disappointment, some pointed out a potential silver lining. The film's complete audio jukebox is already out, and the extra time could allow the music to become even more popular, potentially building more hype for the eventual release. Now, a new report suggests a major development in the situation. According to sources, Netflix, the film's post-theatrical streaming partner, is reportedly pushing the makers for a December 25 release. The streaming giant is keen to capitalize on the Christmas and New Year's holiday period, which is a very lucrative time for both theatrical and OTT releases. With OTT platforms now having a significant influence on the business of films, their preferences for release dates are often taken very seriously by producers. This new push from Netflix could be the key factor in determining when Akhanda 2 will finally hit the big screen, giving fans a new ray of hope for a holiday release.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, December 6 - Director Anand L Rai's romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein continues its strong run at the box office on the second Saturday, showing nearly 50% growth from Friday. After holding very well through weekdays, the film kicked off the second weekend with a decent hold, before seeing a solid jump the next day. Starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon in the lead roles, Tere Ishk Mein has minted an estimated 5.50 crores net on its 9th day, taking one more step towards the coveted 100 crores milestone. With approximately 93 crores so far, TIK will be looking to hit the milestone by tomorrow to become Dhanush's first film to do so. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Out of 93 crores net, the original Hindi version has clocked 88.50 crores after an estimated 5+ crores net on the second Saturday. The Hindi version alone is expected to enter the 100 crores club by the end of this week, which will be a major success given the genre and cast involved. The film's trending, backed by positive word of mouth and critics' reception, has been remarkably consistent, with collections refusing to slow down even in competitive markets. The superb growth indicates strong public reception despite the arrivel of Dhurandhar which is dominating this weekend with nearly 75% of the marke share. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhanush's performance continues to receive widespread praise, while Kriti Sanon's role has been highlighted as one of her best in recent times. Their chemistry and the emotional depth of the narrative along with music have emerged as key factors in the film's sustained box office momentum. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

In an exciting development for film enthusiasts, a special prologue for Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated epic, The Odyssey, is set to make its international debut attached to screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash.The exclusive look at Nolan's new film will be available in IMAX theaters starting December 19, offering audiences a substantial peek more than a year and a half before the movie's official release. According to official communication sent to theater owners, the prologue will have a runtime of 5 minutes and 27 seconds. This follows Nolan's tradition of releasing extended prologues for his films, such as The Dark Knight and Tenet, often attached to other major IMAX releases to showcase the immersive format. The prologue of ‘THE ODYSSEY’, lasting 5 minutes and 27 seconds, will be screened from December 19 ahead of IMAX showings of ‘AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH’ pic.twitter.com/0kgFyyBSSt— Nolan Archive (@NolanAnalyst) December 5, 2025 The Odyssey, based on Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, boasts a star-studded ensemble cast. Matt Damon stars as the lead character, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca on a perilous journey home after the Trojan War.He is joined by Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong'o, among others. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film, which is being shot entirely with new IMAX 70mm film cameras, is described as a mythic action epic.It chronicles Odysseus's decade-long voyage, where he encounters mythical creatures and formidable challenges while trying to reunite with his family. This special prologue event marks the first significant footage released to the public for the film, which is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on July 17, 2026.The collaboration between two of the year's biggest cinematic events is set to make the IMAX experience for Avatar: Fire and Ash an even more anticipated event for moviegoers.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The musical journey for Megastar Chiranjeevi's highly anticipated film, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu , has officially begun. Director Anil Ravipudi has kicked off the promotions by releasing the promo for the film's first single, a beautiful melody titled Sasirekha. On Saturday, December 6, the director took to his social media to share the exciting update with fans. In his post, he wrote, Let's celebrate the MEGA CLASS of ManaShankaraVaraPrasadGaru with Sasirekha. The announcement confirmed that while the song promo is out now, the full lyrical video will be released on December 8th. Let’s celebrate the MEGA CLASS of #ManaShankaraVaraPrasadGaru with #Sasirekha 😍Song Promo out now 🥳Full Lyrical Video on December 8th ❤️‍🔥-- https://t.co/EBGOtY0rlZ #ChiruANIL ~ #MSG Sankranthi 2026 RELEASE. pic.twitter.com/PMfZiI4oSb— Anil Ravipudi (@AnilRavipudi) December 6, 2025 The promo gives a glimpse of what appears to be a classic, soothing melody. Set against a serene and picturesque backdrop of lush greenery and backwaters, the visuals suggest a very different and classier tone than what might be expected from the typically high-energy combination of Chiranjeevi and Anil Ravipudi. This film marks the first-ever collaboration between the legendary Megastar and the hit-making director, with popular actress Nayanthara joining the cast as the female lead. The project, which uses the hashtag ChiruANIL, has been locked for a prime holiday release, with the makers confirming it will be a Sankranthi 2026 release. With the first song promo setting a calm and classy mood, anticipation is now building for the full lyrical video to see how this fresh and exciting combination is shaping up.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Having a big star cast and a huge budget does not always guarantee a film's success at the box office. Every year, some of the most awaited movies fail to connect with the audience and end up being major disappointments. The year 2025 saw several such films that had immense pre-release hype but could not deliver the expected results. Let's take a look at the big-scale films that underperformed this year. Highly Anticipated Films of 2025: A Look at the NumbersMovie NameBudgetWorldwide CollectionWar 2₹ 350 Cr₹ 364.35 CrGame Changer₹ 400 Cr₹ 186.25 CrSikandar₹ 180 Cr₹ 184.6 CrFateh₹ 40 Cr₹ 19.05 CrThug Life₹ 280 Cr₹ 97.25 CrVidaamuyarchi₹ 138 Cr₹ 135.65 CrVeera Dheera Sooran₹ 55 Cr₹ 63.45 CrHari Hara Veera Mallu₹ 250 Cr₹ 116.82 Cr120 Bahadur₹ 85 Cr₹ 23.66 CrBaaghi 4₹ 80 Cr₹ 77 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Bollywood saw some of its most dependable names and franchises falter this year. War 2, the sequel to a mammoth blockbuster, opened huge due to the hype. However, negative word-of-mouth spread quickly, and the film failed the crucial Monday test, with collections dropping over 70% from its opening day. It was unable to recover and ended its run as a theatrical flop. Salman Khan's Eid offering, Sikandar, also opened big but saw no growth over the weekend. The collections crashed on Monday, and the film barely managed to recover its budget, making it a major underperformer. Franchise films also took a hit this year. Baaghi 4, starring Tiger Shroff, failed to make an impact and ended its run with collections below its budget. Sonu Sood's directorial, Fateh, had a very poor run in theaters. However, some reports suggest the film found its audience after its release on OTT platforms. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) South Indian cinema also delivered some of the year's biggest shocks. Ram Charan and director Shankar's mega-budget film Game Changer was expected to be a pan-India blockbuster. However, the film was rejected by the audience from day one and struggled to even cross the ₹200 crore mark against its massive budget. Kamal Haasan's Thug Life, Ajith Kumar's Vidaamuyarchi , and Vikram's Veera Dheera Sooran also were the other highly anticipated Tamil films that failed to perform. The films received poor reviews, which resulted in a short and unprofitable theatrical run. Pawan Kalyan's long-in-the-making period action film Hari Hara Veera Mallu also turned out to be a major disapointment. Made on a budget of over ₹250 crore, the film's collections did not even cross the halfway mark. The historical film 120 Bahadur, despite its interesting subject, has failed to attract audiences and its collections have remained very low in its run so far, while the film is still in theaters.

BY SACNILK TEAM

The most astonishing stories of 2025 came from regional cinema. The Gujarati film Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate, a devotional drama, was made on an unbelievable budget of just ₹50 lakhs. It had a disastrous start, earning very little in its first few weeks. However, strong word-of-mouth about the film's powerful, family-friendly message helped its collections explode. It eventually became the first Gujarati movie to earn over ₹100 crore, a truly miraculous success. Another mind-boggling hit was SuFromSo. This quirky, experimental film opened to almost no buzz, but its unique story went viral on social media, turning it into a sensation. Made on a tiny budget of ₹3 crore, it captured the imagination of the youth and grossed a massive ₹121 crore. Sleeper Hits of 2025: A Look at the Numbers Movie NameBudgetWorldwide Collection Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate₹ 50 Lakhs₹ 110.5 Cr Mahavatar Narasimha₹ 40 Cr₹ 325.74 Cr SuFromSo₹ 3 Cr₹ 121 Cr Little Hearts₹ 2 Cr₹ 39.5 Cr Tourist Family₹ 7 Cr₹ 86.25 Cr Alappuzha Gymkhana₹ 12 Cr₹ 65.2 Cr Maaman₹ 10 Cr₹ 41.15 Cr Kudumbasthan₹ 8 Cr₹ 27 Cr Heartfelt stories also found a huge audience. Telugu cinema's Little Hearts, a youthful romance, was a perfect example. It opened to just ₹1.35 crore but saw incredible growth over its first weekend, registering a 160% jump by Sunday. The film broke even on its second day and went on to become a blockbuster purely on the power of its young audience. Similarly, the Tamil drama Tourist Family, made on a modest ₹7 crore budget, started slow. But its emotional and relatable storyline connected deeply with families, leading to a steady and remarkable run that ended with a worldwide collection of over ₹86 crore. The South Indian industries consistently proved that good content finds its audience. The Malayalam film Alappuzha Gymkhana started with average numbers, but its engaging plot and strong performances led to glowing reviews, ensuring a long and profitable theatrical run. Tamil cinema had a particularly strong year with content-driven hits. Maaman, starring Soori, performed moderately in big cities but was a runaway blockbuster in rural regions, building its ₹41 crore collection on the back of its target audience. Kudumbasthan was praised as a hilarious family comedy, and its relatability turned the mid-budget film into a clean hit. Finally, the year's biggest surprise in terms of scale was the Hindi animated film Mahavatar Narasimha. While made on a larger budget of ₹40 crore, it started with a very modest opening day. As a mythological animation, its potential was underestimated. However, it connected deeply with families and children, witnessing historic jumps in collections week after week. The momentum never stopped, and it went on to become an all-time blockbuster, earning a colossal ₹325.74 crore and shattering all records for an Indian animated film.