Ayan Mukerji’s War 2 has officially hit theaters, uniting Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani in what promises to be a thrilling spy adventure. On its opening day, the film raked in a worldwide total of ₹79 crore. While that’s a solid start for many films, expectations were sky-high for this sequel, with early buzz hinting at a potential ₹100 crore opening. The slightly lower-than-expected debut has sparked some chatter among industry insiders, but there’s still plenty of room for the film to gain momentum over the weekend.
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Join Telegram ChannelIn India, the Hindi version brought in ₹28 crore net (₹34 crore gross), making it the backbone of the domestic earnings. The Telugu version added ₹24 crore gross, largely thanks to Jr NTR’s strong fanbase in the South. However, trade experts point out that these numbers are a bit underwhelming given the hefty sums distributors shelled out for the rights. Meanwhile, Tamil collections were quite low, reflecting the film’s primary focus on Hindi and Telugu audiences.
On the international front, War 2 pulled in USD 2.4 million (around ₹20.75 crore), with USD 1 million from premiere screenings and USD 1.4 million on its first official day. While this is a decent start for a Hindi action film, it still lags behind the impressive figures set by recent hits like Devara, which saw higher numbers just from North American premieres.
Looking ahead, the outlook is bright. The film is gearing up for a strong holiday weekend, with estimates suggesting it could easily surpass ₹300 crore worldwide by Sunday. This will depend on solid growth over Saturday and Sunday, fueled by the film’s mass appeal, high-octane action, and the excitement of seeing Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR together on screen. However, the real challenge will come on Monday—if the film can maintain its momentum after the weekend, it could aim for a lifetime total in the ₹500 crore range globally. Anything less might be viewed as a letdown for a production of this magnitude.
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One of the more surprising things about the opening day was how it compared to Rajinikanth’s Coolie. Even though War 2 is a major Bollywood franchise with a wider audience, Coolie actually outperformed it nearly two-to-one on day one. Both films received similar reviews, but War 2 might have the edge in keeping audiences coming back in the Hindi belt over the next few weeks, especially since there aren’t any big Bollywood releases coming up right away.
One reason for the film’s somewhat modest start could be its promotional phase. While War 2 sparked some curiosity, some industry watchers feel that the trailers and marketing didn’t quite capture the scale and emotional depth of the story. The excitement leading up to the release faded from those early high expectations, with many adjusting their predictions down from an initially rumored ₹175 crore worldwide opening day. Still, the film has some strong points—its cast, the franchise’s reputation, and top-notch action choreography—giving it a chance to pick up momentum through positive word-of-mouth over the weekend.
For Hrithik Roshan, War 2 is another action-packed role that showcases his physicality and charm, while Jr NTR’s involvement helps the film connect with Telugu-speaking audiences. Kiara Advani brings a fresh appeal, and Ayan Mukerji’s direction aims to mix stylish sequences with a pan-Indian vibe. This combination is crafted to attract both single-screen viewers and multiplex audiences, which is key for maintaining box office collections beyond the initial fan frenzy.
If the film achieves the expected weekend boost, War 2 could be on track for one of the strongest opening weekends of the year, even if it didn’t quite reach the record-breaking day-one numbers that some had anticipated. The stakes are high not just for the film’s immediate box office performance, but also for the larger spy universe it’s part of—success here could pave the way for interconnected sequels and spin-offs in the years to come.
As it stands, War 2 has kicked off with a solid but not record-setting debut. The next few days will be crucial in determining its trajectory.
