BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 30 - May 2026 turned out to be one of the most successful months for the Indian box office, with at least three major theatrical wins across the film industry. While the Tamil and Malayalam film industries continued their solid run through Karuppu and Drishyam 3, respectively, the biggest surprise came from Marathi cinema as Deool Band 2 emerged as an unexpected blockbuster, amid the underperforming Bollywood titles. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Karuppu and Drishyam 3's Blockbuster Run Suriya's Karuppu turned out to be a massive commercial success for Tamil cinema. Directed by RJ Balaji, the action drama shattered every major career record for Suriya and maintained extraordinary momentum throughout the month. Released on May 15, the film has crossed 270 crores worldwide in just 15 days so far, also earning more than 2x of Suriya's previous biggest grosser, Singam 2. The film has performed exceptionally well in Tamil Nadu with 130+ crores gross so far, while also drawing strong support from the rest of the domestic and overseas audiences. Meanwhile, Mohanlal's Drishyam 3 once again showcased the power of one of Indian cinema's most celebrated thriller franchises. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film opened to phenomenal numbers and continued its solid run across domestic and overseas markets despite mixed reception. Kerala led the charge on the domestic front, but the overseas market is once again proving to be a major contributor for a Malayalam title. In just 8 days so far, the film has minted 200+ crores worldwide, including 100+ crores overseas collection. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Marathi Cinema Wins Big With Raja Shivaji's and Deool Band 2 Marathi cinema has emerged as a major winner this month with the blockbuster run of Raja Shivaji, and an unexpected success in Deool Band 2. Directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, Raja Shivaji scripted history by emerging as the highest-grossing Marathi film of all-time, beating Sairat's 110 crores record, which stood for nearly 10 years. Released on May 1st, the historical epic has grossed over 115 crores worldwide in 29 days so far. Meanwhile, devotional drama, Deool Band 2, scored the limelight by delivering a surprise success. After a 2.90 crore gross opening, the film witnessed solid growth over the weekend due to positive word of mouth and showed remarkable consistency on weekdays. In 8 days so far, the film has minted 39+ crores gross, and is marching towards 50 crores, which is a blockbuster for the film of its scale. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Bollywood Underperforms With Pati Patni Aur Woh Do and Chand Mera Dil In contrast to the regional dominance, May 2026 also witnessed disappointments in Hindi cinema. Films like Pati Patni Aur Woh Do and Chand Mera Dil failed to generate the theatrical momentum the industry had expected. Pati Patni Aur Woh Do struggled to attract audiences despite being a sequel. The film opened to underwhelming occupancies and failed to show significant growth over the weekend. While PPAWD has managed to cross 50 crores worldwide, the overall total remains low considering the scale and expectations. Similarly, romantic drama Chand Mera Dil also failed to capitalise on its urban appeal and music-driven promotions. After failing to score a decent opening, the film hasn't shown the momentum required for a rebound. It has grossed around 28.50 crores so far in 8 days, which is a poor collection. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top Indian Films In May 2026 (May Release Only) S. No. Movie Industry India GBOC Worldwide GBOC 1 Karuppu Tamil ₹ 198.30 Cr ₹ 274.00 Cr 2 Drishyam 3 Malayalam ₹ 100+ Cr ₹ 208.00 Cr 3 Raja Shivaji Marathi ₹ 111.10 Cr ₹ 115.40 Cr 4 Athiradi Malayalam ₹ 40.65 Cr ₹ 65.30 Cr 5 Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Hindi ₹ 51.25 Cr ₹ 59.00 Cr 6 Krishnavataram Part 1 Hindi ₹ 39+ Cr ₹ 39+ Cr 7 Deool Band 2 Marathi ₹ 39.15 Cr ₹ 39.15 Cr Data as of May 29 (GBOC - Gross Box Office Collection)

BY SACNILK

Karuppu is maintaining a steady grip at the box office as it completes its second Tuesday in theaters. After a strong opening week, the film is now navigating the usual weekday trend with a logical dip in numbers. Based on early estimates, the movie earned a net collection of 4.45 Cr in India on its 12th day. When we look at the trajectory, this represents a 24.6 percent drop from the previous day, which saw a collection of 5.90 Cr. It is a standard pattern for a big-budget film in its second week, and the steady count of 4,470 shows indicates that the film continues to hold a significant presence across screens. A significant milestone to note is that the film officially crossed the 150 Crore net mark in India on its 11th day itself. Reaching this level within just 11 days of release is a clear indicator of its strong box office pull and puts it in an elite bracket of performers. As of the end of Day 12, the total India net has climbed to 159.20 Cr, while the gross collections stand at 184.26 Cr. Looking back at the Day 11 trend, the film saw a typical post-weekend drop of 60 percent, but the steady performance on Tuesday suggests a consistent interest from the audience during the weekdays. Karuppu has managed to break into the top three for the highest second Tuesday net collections in the Tamil language. By earning 3.65 Cr from the Tamil version alone on its 12th day, it has outperformed hits like Amaran and Vikram. Highest 2nd Tuesday Tamil/Kollywood Net CollectionRANKMOVIE NAME2ND TUESDAY NET (TAMIL)1The Greatest of All Time₹ 6.45 Cr2Sarkar₹ 4.00 Cr3Karuppu₹ 3.65 Cr4Amaran₹ 3.60 Cr5Vikram₹ 3.51 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at how the film is performing across different regions, the home territory of Tamil Nadu continues to be the primary driver of growth. Here is the state-wise gross collection report for Day 12: Tamil Nadu: 3.70 Cr APTG: 0.80 Cr Karnataka: 0.30 Cr Kerala: 0.21 Cr Rest of India: 0.08 Cr Total Day 12 Gross: 5.09 Cr When we dive into city-level data, Chennai remains the powerhouse for the film with a 36 percent overall occupancy. The night shows in Chennai saw a peak of 41 percent, showing that the urban audience is still turning up in good numbers. Other regions like Coimbatore and Madurai are also showing healthy trends with 29.8 percent and 22 percent occupancy respectively. Bengaluru is seeing a more modest performance at 11.5 percent, which is typical for a Tamil film in its second week in that market. In terms of ticket sales in national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, the film is holding its own even with new competition like Drishyam 3. For Day 12, the national chains contributed around 18.7 Lakhs to the advance gross. Specifically, PVR brought in 12.5 Lakhs, INOX contributed 4.9 Lakhs, and Cinepolis added 1.3 Lakhs. These figures show that while the volume is lower than the opening weekend, the interest remains sustained in multiplexes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The ticket sales on BookMyShow also tell an interesting story, with Karuppu selling 79.16K tickets on its second Tuesday. If we look at how other major blockbusters have performed, Jailer sold 108K tickets on its second Tuesday. While Karuppu is trailing that specific record, selling nearly 80K tickets on a weekday is a very healthy sign. Total tickets sold on the platform have now reached a significant 38.42 Lakhs. On the global front, Suriya is witnessing a career-best performance in several markets, with early estimates suggesting the film added another 1.00 Cr on Day 12. In the UK and Ireland, the film has smashed records by crossing 400K Pounds [approximately 4.35 Cr] in just 11 days, marking it as a mega blockbuster in that region. Over in North America, according to data from Venky Box Office, the film earned 40K Dollars [around 33.5 Lakhs] on Monday, taking its total there to 1.29 Million Dollars [roughly 10.80 Cr]. Through the second weekend, the total overseas gross stands at 7.05 Million Dollars [67.1 Cr]. In total, the worldwide gross for Karuppu has now reached 253.26 Cr. With a total show count of 64,922 across its 12-day run, the film has managed to balance domestic strength with an impressive overseas footprint. The logical trend suggests it will continue to add to its tally before the next set of big releases arrives.

BY SACNILK

It has been over a decade since Homi Adajania's Cocktail arrived in theaters, yet the film remains a definitive benchmark for the urban romantic-comedy genre in India. While many films from that era have faded, Cocktail is still a staple on playlists and streaming platforms. With the spiritual sequel, Cocktail 2, scheduled for release on June 19, 2026, the big question is whether this fresh trio can capture the same lightning in a bottle that the original did back in 2012. Back in 2012, the film was produced on a modest 35 Crore budget and turned into a significant commercial success. Its journey began with a 10.95 Crore opening Friday, followed by a steady first week that closed at 53.18 Crore. By the time it exited theaters, the domestic net stood at 71.24 Crore while the worldwide gross reached 121.78 Crore. For that period, these numbers were a strong indicator that audiences were looking for more grounded and contemporary narratives. A huge part of that cult status came from the music. Pritam's soundtrack wasn’t just a collection of songs; it was the heartbeat of the film. From the friendship anthems like Tumhi Ho Bandhu and Daaru Desi to the emotional depth of Yaariyan and Jugni, the album dominated every chart. Even today, tracks like Angreji Beat remain club staples. The album peaked at rank 18 on iTunes India and remains one of the top three Bollywood albums of 2012. For many fans, the music was the primary reason for the film's long-term longevity. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Beyond the music, the film was a career-defining moment for Deepika Padukone. By choosing to play the impulsive and fiercely independent Veronica instead of the traditional Meera, she subverted the classic bad girl trope. Instead of being the villain, Veronica was humanized—showing that a woman could be westernized and flawed yet deeply empathetic and loyal. The chemistry between Saif Ali Khan, Deepika, and debutante Diana Penty created a messy, realistic love triangle that felt authentic to the youth of that decade. Now, fast forward to 2026, and Homi Adajania is back in the director's chair for Cocktail 2. This time, the film features a fresh cast led by Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films in collaboration with Luv Ranjan, the project has already wrapped its filming in locations like Sicily and Delhi. Dimple Kapadia returns to the franchise, joined by Sanjay Dutt, Rohit Saraf, and a supporting appearance by Varun Dhawan. However, the sequel faces a high bar. The initial music reception has been divided. While Pritam returns as the composer, the first single Mashooqa faced plagiarism allegations, with listeners comparing its melody to a 1993 Italian track. While the visuals and the sizzling chemistry between Shahid and Kriti have been praised, critical listeners feel the new tracks have a tough task matching the masterpiece of 2012. The sequel needs to do more than just look glamorous; it has to capture the same raw emotional honesty that made the first film a classic. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon leading the cast, along with a wider release than the original, the sequel is expected to see a double-digit opening day. If the film receives positive word-of-mouth, it has the potential to reach the 150 Crore mark worldwide. To secure a spot in the top 10 list of romantic comedies since 2012, its first major goal will be to overtake the 109 Crore gross of Pati Patni Aur Woh. You can find the current rankings and where the original film stands in the list below. Top 10 Highest Grossing Rom-Coms Since 2012 (Worldwide)MOVIE NAMEWORLDWIDE GROSSYeh Jawaani Hai Deewani₹ 318.00 CrTanu Weds Manu Returns₹ 258.00 CrTu Jhoothi Main Makkaar₹ 223.00 Cr2 States₹ 173.10 CrTeri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya₹ 139.00 CrLuka Chuppi₹ 128.00 CrCocktail (2012)₹ 121.78 CrHumpty Sharma Ki Dulhania₹ 119.60 CrZara Hatke Zara Bachke₹ 116.00 CrPati Patni Aur Woh₹ 109.00 Cr

BY SACNILK

Dhanush fans have been eagerly waiting for the next update on his gritty action thriller, Kara, and the news is finally here. Following its theatrical release earlier this year, the film is now set to reach a much wider audience through its digital debut. Directed by Vignesh Raja, who previously impressed everyone with the investigative thriller Por Thozhil, Kara brought together a powerhouse combination of Dhanush's intense performance and the high production values of Kamal Haasan's RKFI. The buzz surrounding the film was significant from the start, especially with Kamal Haasan producing it under a massive budget of 135 Crores. Where and when to stream Kara on OTT? After completing its theatrical window, the makers have locked in the digital premiere. Netflix has officially secured the digital streaming rights for the film in a deal reported to be around 50 Crores. Kara is scheduled to start streaming on Netflix from May 28, 2026. To cater to Dhanush's massive pan-India following, the platform will release the film in its original Tamil version along with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada. This move to Netflix on May 28 allows viewers across the country to experience this period heist thriller on their screens. What is the story of Kara? The film is a unique heist thriller set in 1991 against the realistic backdrop of the Gulf War fuel crisis. The narrative follows Karasaami, popularly known as Kara, a reformed thief who returns to his village in Ramanathapuram after years. His plan is simple: sell his ancestral land to fund his dream of opening a canteen with his wife. However, he quickly discovers that his village is being strangled by a corrupt rural bank manager and a ruthless police officer who exploit the farmers through predatory debt cycles. This discovery forces Kara to return to his criminal roots, leading to a high-stakes, realistic heist aimed at reclaiming the villagers’ mortgaged assets and delivering justice. If we look at the financial performance, Kara's run has been a mix of steady collections and heavy production costs. While the 135 Crore budget puts it in the flop category theatrically, the film has remarkably managed to become the 6th highest-grossing Tamil movie of all time so far this year(in terms of collection). As of day 26(4th Monday) it secured a worldwide gross of ₹53.68Cr(approx), showing consistent interest from the audience despite the high stakes. A significant portion of this success came from the international markets, where a strong overseas performance helped provide a much-needed cushion to the domestic totals. Kara: Total Box Office Collection (As of Day 26 Approx) CATEGORY COLLECTION (INR) India Net Collection ₹ 37.53 Cr India Gross Collection ₹ 43.18 Cr Overseas Collection ₹ 10.50 Cr Worldwide Total ₹ 53.68 Cr Kara: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is Kara a hit or a flop? Kara is technically a Box Office Flop when compared to its high budget of 135 Crores. However, it ranks as the 6th highest-grossing Tamil film of 2026 in terms of total gross volume, collecting over 53.68 Crores worldwide. Where to stream Kara on OTT? The film will be available for streaming exclusively on Netflix in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada versions. Who is the director of Kara? The film is directed by Vignesh Raja, the director known for the critically acclaimed 2023 thriller Por Thozhil. What is the OTT release date for Kara? The confirmed OTT release date for Kara is May 28, 2026, nearly four weeks after its theatrical debut.

BY SACNILK

Kochi, May 26 - Megastar Mohanlal's crime suspense thriller Drishyam 3 has topped the 150 crores milestone at the worldwide box office after a good hold on its first working day. Despite mixed reviews, the film continues to benefit from the franchise's legacy to pull in solid numbers. According to estimates, Drishyam 3 collected over 8.50+ crores gross on its first Monday at the domestic box office, which took its total gross to around 71.75+ crores in India in 5 days. The film witnessed a drop of around 50% from its Thursday opening day, and just around 30% from Friday, which is a solid hold for a film with mixed reception. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) At the overseas box office, Jeethu Joseph's directorial has grossed an estimated 84 crores so far, pushing the total worldwide collection to around 155 crores in 5 days. With this, it has become the second Malayalam film of 2026, and the third for superstar Mohanlal to achieve the feat after Thudarum and Empuraan.After just five days of its box office run, the third instalment in the blockbuster franchise has become the 8th highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time. The film is expected to enter the 200 crores club during the second weekend to become the sixth Mollywood title to do so. As reported earlier, the box office trajectory of Drishyam 3 is pretty much similar to Mohanlal's L2: Empuraan. Both films carry a similar perception among the audience, but benefited largely from franchise value and star power. Empuraan finished its theatrical run with 265+ crores gross after the monstrous opening weekend collection of around 175 crores. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 10 Highest-Grossing Malayalam Films Worldwide S. No. Movie Worldwide Gross 1 Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra ₹ 303.85 Cr 2 L2: Empuraan ₹ 266.80 Cr 3 Manjummel Boys ₹ 241.00 Cr 4 Thudarum ₹ 235.40 Cr 5 Vaazha II: Biopic of a Billion Bros ₹ 235.25 Cr 6 2018 ₹ 180.00 Cr 7 Aadujeevitham: The GOAT Life ₹ 157.60 Cr 8 Drishyam 3 ₹ 155.00+ Cr* 9 Aavesham ₹ 154.80 Cr 10 Sarvam Maya ₹ 151.25 Cr As of May 25, 2026

BY SACNILK

The reunion of Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan has clearly struck a chord with the audience, as Bhooth Bangla continues its steady march through its sixth week. Horror-comedies often rely on strong word-of-mouth to survive the initial weeks, and this film has managed to do just that, maintaining a consistent presence in theaters even as new releases arrive. Entering Day 39, the film is showing the kind of endurance that is becoming increasingly rare in today's fast-paced box office cycle. According to early estimates, Bhooth Bangla collected a net of 0.50 Crore on its sixth Monday. This reflects a logical 63.0 percent drop from the previous day's collection of 1.35 Crore, which is standard for a weekday following a weekend boost. This latest addition brings the total India net collection to 174.85 Crore. On the gross front, the domestic total has now reached 207.22 Crore. When we factor in the overseas gross of 53.75 Crore, the worldwide total stands at a solid 260.97 Crore. The film has achieved these numbers through an extensive run of over 227,000 shows since its release. Ticket sales on BookMyShow remain quite healthy for a film in its 39th day, rounded with 11.59K tickets booked on the platform this Monday. This brings the total ticket count across its entire run to approximately 32.7 Lakhs. The steady demand even after more than a month in theaters suggests that the film has successfully tapped into the family audience segment that enjoys the classic Priyadarshan brand of humor mixed with supernatural elements. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In the major national multiplex chains, the film maintained a steady flow of audience. Between PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, a total of 2.1K tickets were sold, bringing in a gross of 4.5 Lakhs for the day. Looking at the chain-wise breakdown, PVR led with 2.2 Lakhs, while INOX and Cinepolis contributed 1.3 Lakhs and 1.0 Lakhs respectively. This cumulative performance across 550 shows resulted in an average occupancy of 2.10 percent for these chains. Regionally, the Hindi-speaking heartland continues to provide the most support. On Day 39, the National Capital Region (NCR) led the way with a 14.0 percent occupancy across 192 shows, showing particular strength during the night screenings which saw 17.0 percent of seats filled. Lucknow also showed decent engagement with an 11.5 percent overall occupancy, while Ahmedabad recorded 9.8 percent across its 81 shows. The consistent performance in these major cities has been the backbone of the film's long-term success. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the film misses out on a top 10 spot for all-time Day 39 collections, it has still managed to secure a position on the historical list for this stage of the theatrical run. The very top of this leaderboard is led by films that showed exceptional longevity, such as Stree 2 with 5.00 Crore, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge with 3.25 Crore, and Jawan with 2.09 Crore. To even enter the top 10, a film needs to surpass the 1.10 Crore mark set by Kalki 2898 AD. By collecting 0.50 Crore on its sixth Monday, Bhooth Bangla currently ranks 18th, matching the daily pace seen by other significant hits like Raid 2 and Gadar 2. This ranking places it among a select group of Hindi releases that have remained active enough to register on the charts after five weeks in theaters. As the film nears the end of its sixth week, the focus is now on how much further it can push its total before concluding its theatrical run. With a worldwide gross exceeding 260 Crore, Bhooth Bangla has already established itself as a significant hit. The combination of a beloved actor-director duo and a popular genre has proven to be a winning formula, allowing the film to maintain a steady, albeit smaller, stream of revenue deep into its second month of release.

BY SACNILK

The second Monday is usually when we see how much staying power a film really has, and for Karuppu, the Day 11 numbers are looking quite steady. Based on early estimates, the film has now crossed the 150 Crore net mark in India. It is an important milestone that shows the movie is holding onto its audience well even after the initial rush of the first week. If we look at the raw data, the film collected a net of 5.90 Crore on Day 11 across 4,457 shows. While this represents a 60.0 percent drop compared to the previous day's net collection of 14.75 Crore, it is a very logical and expected trend for a working Monday following a massive second weekend. This takes the total India net collection to 154.75 Crore. On the gross front, the domestic total has reached 179.15 Crore, while the overseas market contributed another 1.00 Crore on Monday, pushing the total overseas gross to 68.00 Crore. When you combine these figures, Karuppu stands at a worldwide gross of 247.15 Crore. One of the most impressive aspects of this run is the ticket sales momentum. On its second Monday, Karuppu recorded approximately 100.84K ticket bookings on BookMyShow. To put this into perspective, we can compare it with previous blockbusters to understand the magnitude of this trend. While Jailer held a record with 126K sales on its second Monday, Karuppu’s performance of roughly 101K puts it right in the league of massive hits like The GOAT. Staying in the six-figure range for weekday ticket sales is a clear indicator of strong word-of-mouth and repeat audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Breaking down the performance in national chains for the day, we see a steady flow of revenue. In the major multiplexes, the film collected about 32.8 Lakhs gross from approximately 22.4K tickets sold. If we look at the individual chain performance, PVR led the way with 23.2 Lakhs, followed by INOX with 7.7 Lakhs, and Cinepolis with 1.9 Lakhs. The total contribution from these three major chains aligns perfectly with the overall reported 32.8 Lakhs. Even with competition from Drishyam 3, which is also vying for screen time, Karuppu maintained a superior occupancy rate of around 14.5 percent in these chains compared to its competitor's 9.1 percent. Language-wise, the Tamil version continues to be the primary engine of growth. On Day 11, the Tamil 2D version recorded an overall occupancy of 26.6 percent. Chennai remains the stronghold with 46.0 percent occupancy across 562 shows, showing particular strength in the evening and night shows which hovered around 54 to 56 percent. Coimbatore also put up a strong fight with nearly 40 percent occupancy. The Telugu version is holding its own in pockets like Vizag-Visakhapatnam, which saw a healthy 21.5 percent occupancy, outperforming even Hyderabad which sat at 16.0 percent for its 290 shows. Bengaluru, a crucial melting pot for both languages, saw a combined effort with occupancy rates staying between 12 and 13 percent for both Tamil and Telugu screenings.This consistent performance has helped the film secure a top spot on the historical leaderboard for second Monday collections in Kollywood. Kollywood 2nd Monday Highest Collection (Tamil Net)MOVIE NAME2ND MONDAY NET (TAMIL)The Greatest of All Time₹ 5.80 CrKaruppu₹ 4.90 CrVikram₹ 4.17 CrAmaran₹ 4.15 CrPonniyin Selvan - Part 1₹ 4.00 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Also Check the cumulative state-wise gross breakdown as of the eleventh day: Tamil Nadu: 120.15 Crore Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (APTG): 26.15 Crore Karnataka: 18.58 Crore Kerala: 11.51 Crore Rest of India: 2.76 Crore Total India Gross: 179.15 Crore When we look at the historical leaderboard of Tamil cinema, reaching the 250 Crore mark is a benchmark reserved for the biggest blockbusters. Speed-wise, films like Coolie, 2.0, and Leo remain the pace-setters, having achieved this global feat in just 3 days. They are followed by heavyweights like Jailer and The Greatest of All Time, which took 4 days, while Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1 crossed the line in 5 days. Karuppu is now on the verge of entering this prestigious circle. Based on early estimates, the film is expected to hit the milestone by its 12th day, placing it right alongside the steady performance of Amaran, which also reached the mark in 12 days. It is a significant achievement that highlights the film's sustained popularity across both domestic and international markets. Looking ahead, the film is on a clear trajectory to hit the 250 Crore worldwide gross mark by today. The overseas performance, which Venky Box Office reports at approximately 7.05 Million dollars or 67.1 Crore before adding Monday’s early estimates, has been a significant pillar for the film's success. As we head into the rest of the week, the stability of these numbers suggests that Karuppu is not just a opening-weekend wonder but a long-distance runner that is effectively capitalizing on its massive show count of over 60,000 screenings since its release.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 25 - The Indian box office was heavily tilted towards regional cinema during the May 22-24 weekend, with the strong debut Malayalam blockbuster Drishyam 3 and Marathi film Deool Band 2, as regional films comfortably outperformed Bollywood releases for the second weekend in a row. On top of that, Suriya's Karuppu continued to attract strong footfalls in the second weekend, also after the blockbuster opening frame. Drishyam 3 Continues Franchise Legacy With Blockbuster Debut (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The third instalment in director Jeethu Joseph's crime thriller franchise once again stayed true to the franchise legacy after an excellent opening weekend at the Indian box office. After the huge opening day upon its Thursday release, Drishyam 3 continued its phenomenal run across Kerala and other domestic markets over the weekend despite mixed word of mouth. Drishyam 3 continued to benefit from the franchise value as Drishyam 3 is easily the biggest film series to come out of Malayalam cinema. It scored the second biggest opening day, followed by the second biggest weekend for a Malayalam trend, and advances for Monday indicate that the film is up for a solid run, especially in Kerala. Karuppu Maintains Excellent Momentum (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Suriya's fantasy action drama Karuppu remained the top choice at the Tamil Nadu box office for the second weekend in a row, after scoring one of the biggest 2nd weekend for a Tamil film. Backed by excellent audience response, the movie continued its successful theatrical journey and moved closer to new worldwide milestones. During the weekend, RJ Balaji's directorial entered the 100 crores gross club in Tamil Nadu, making it the first instance for a Suriya-starrer, thus creating history for the actor. It also went past 200 crores gross at the global box office, which is also the first time for the Singam actor, as the film continues to reach new milestones. Deool Band 2 Emerges As A Surprise Winner (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Marathi devotional drama Deool Band 2 sustained its superb trend at the box office with excellent occupancy in Maharashtra in the first weekend. Family audiences continued to support the film in large numbers, helping it dominate several centres despite competition from bigger releases. The film has now emerged as one of the breakout successes of the month. Chand Mera Dil Underperforms As Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Holds Steady Dharma Production's romantic drama, Chand Mera Dil, starring Lakshya and Ananya Panday, failed to generate the expected theatrical momentum. Despite a decent, visible promotional campaign, the film struggled against the dominance of regional cinema due to mixed word of mouth. Although there was some improvement over the weekend, the overall box office performance remained below expectations. Ayushmann Khurrana's romantic-comedy entertainer, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do managed to maintain a decent hold on low levels during the weekend, especially in multiplex-heavy urban centres. While the overall collections remained low, the film managed to escape the free fall due to limited competition despite mixed word of mouth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 5 Weekend Grossers At Indian Box Office (May 22-24) S. No. Movie Weekend Collection Total Domestic Collection 1 Drishyam 3 ₹ 45.00 Cr ₹ 63.35 Cr 2 Karuppu ₹ 40.55 Cr ₹ 172.40 Cr 3 Deool Band 2 ₹ 15.70 Cr ₹ 18.60 Cr 4 Chand Mera Dil ₹ 13.25 Cr ₹ 13.25 Cr 5 Pati Patni Aur Woh Do ₹ 8.80 Cr ₹ 43.25 Cr Note: Gross collection*

BY SACNILK

The Marathi film industry is absolutely rocking in 2026. After the massive success of Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam and the historical juggernaut Raja Shivaji, we now have a third winner in the same month. Deool Band 2 has officially taken off to a fantastic start at the box office, proving that when the content connects with the roots, the audience shows up in droves. This back-to-back success of Raja Shivaji and Deool Band 2 is a heartening sight for the local trade, adding significant moolah to the industry's kitty. The journey started with a strong pre-sales milestone, where the film crossed 25,000 advance ticket sales on BookMyShow. This translated into an excellent Day 1, which was a Thursday, collecting 2.45 crore and registering as the 2nd biggest opening for a Marathi film. The growth since then has been remarkable. While Friday remained steady, the devotional-drama saw a massive surge over the weekend. Sunday alone raked in 5.90 crore, representing a 21.6 percent jump from Saturday’s already high collection of 4.85 crore. The momentum in national chains (PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis) has been equally impressive. On Day 2 (Friday), the national chains contributed around 6,000 tickets (2.2K in PVR, 2.5K in INOX, and 1.3K in Cinepolis). However, the weekend velocity shifted gears completely. By Saturday, the sales jumped to a rounded 23,200 tickets (7.2K in PVR, 10.5K in INOX, and 5.5K in Cinepolis). On Sunday, the numbers surged to 38,300 tickets (12.6K in PVR, 17.1K in INOX, and 8.6K in Cinepolis). This rapid sell-out was also seen in chains like MovieMax, where 400 tickets were snapped up within just 4 hours of opening. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Deool Band 2 - Daily India Net Collection BreakdownDAYINDIA NETSHOWSOCCUPANCYDay 1 (Thu)₹ 2.45 Cr1,17541.0%Day 2 (Fri)₹ 2.55 Cr1,23636.0%Day 3 (Sat)₹ 4.85 Cr1,51558.0%Day 4 (Sun)₹ 5.90 Cr1,75065.0%TOTAL₹ 15.75 Cr5,676 51.85% Occupancy levels in the Marathi heartland have been stellar. On Sunday, Pune recorded a massive 79.8 percent occupancy across 366 shows, while Mumbai saw 71.8 percent occupancy with 540 shows. Even the morning shows on Sunday in Pune started at 73 percent, eventually hitting 87 percent by the evening. To put this success in perspective, let's look at where Deool Band 2 stands in the all-time list of opening weekend collections for Marathi cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Raja Shivaji (2026): ₹ 23 Cr Deool Band 2 (2026): ₹ 13 Cr (Extended Weekend) Ved (2022): ₹ 10 Cr Dharmaveer (2022): ₹ 9 Cr Navra Maza Navsacha 2 (2024): ₹ 8 Cr With a total India gross of 18.59 crore and a worldwide collection matching the same, Deool Band 2 has proven its efficiency. By the end of its fourth day, the film has cemented its place as one of the fastest earners in the regional circuit. Given that it is still booking over 5,000 tickets in rolling 24-hour windows on BookMyShow, the weekday hold is expected to be solid. If the current trend continues, the movie is well on its way to becoming an all-time blockbuster for the Marathi film industry.

BY SACNILK

Raja Shivaji has officially etched its name in the history books of Marathi cinema. On its fourth Friday, the film has achieved a monumental milestone by surpassing the lifetime collections of Sairat, effectively becoming the number one Marathi movie of all time. This historical epic is not just holding its ground but is continuing to rake in significant moolah even after a month in theatres, driven by a powerful narrative and strong emotional connect with the audience. The fourth weekend performance highlights the film's incredible resilience. After starting the weekend on Friday (Day 22) with 0.60 crore, the movie witnessed a massive 91.7 percent surge on Saturday (Day 23) to collect 1.15 crore. The momentum continued on Sunday (Day 24) with a collection of 1.30 crore, representing a 13 percent growth from the previous day. This brings the total India net collections to a staggering 92.07 crore, while the India gross stands at 108.78 crore. Including the overseas kitty of 4.22 crore, the worldwide gross has reached the 113.00 crore mark. Raja Shivaji 4th Weekend India Net CollectionDAYCOLLECTION (NET)SHOWS4th Friday (Day 22)₹ 0.60 Cr9094th Saturday (Day 23)₹ 1.22 Cr9424th Sunday (Day 24)₹ 1.30 Cr950Weekend Total₹ 3.12 Cr2,801 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The ticket sales data further reflects this dominance. Over the fourth weekend alone, Raja Shivaji sold approximately 80,000 tickets on the BookMyShow platform, pushing its total sales on the app past the 2.5 million mark—a historic feat for a regional film. National chains have also been a major contributor to this success. On Friday, the three major chains (PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis) sold roughly 2,240 tickets. This number surged to 4,670 tickets on Saturday and peaked at 6,750 tickets on Sunday, showcasing a clear weekend uptick despite the film being in its fourth week. Regionally, the Marathi heartland continues to lead the charge. On Sunday, Mumbai recorded an overall occupancy of 46.5 percent across 125 shows, while Pune saw a brilliant 62 percent occupancy across 111 shows. The Marathi version alone contributed 1.10 crore on Day 24 with a 39 percent occupancy rate, while the Hindi version added 0.20 crore. To date, the Marathi version has collected 67.42 crore net, while the Hindi version has added a healthy 24.65 crore to the overall total across a cumulative 85,426 shows worldwide. Looking at the cumulative language-wise breakdown, the Marathi version has clearly been the primary driver of this success, contributing ₹67.42 crore in net collections (₹79.64 crore gross) from 38,130 shows with a solid average occupancy of 33.8 percent. On the other hand, the Hindi version has played a significant supporting role, adding ₹24.65 crore to the net total (₹29.14 crore gross) across a wider spread of 47,296 shows, maintaining an average occupancy of 13.4 percent throughout its run. While the film is slowly nearing the end of its theatrical run, its performance in urban pockets like Surat and Ahmedabad—where it saw 21 percent and 25 percent occupancy respectively—indicates that the appeal transcends beyond just Maharashtra. By becoming the highest-grossing Marathi film in history, Raja Shivaji has set a new benchmark for regional cinema, proving that high-quality storytelling combined with a grand scale can result in massive theatrical success. The trade is now watching to see if it can push past the 100 crore net mark before its digital premiere.

BY SACNILK

Chennai, May 25 - Tamil superstar Suriya's action drama Karuppu is putting on a sensational show at the box office, and reaching new highs with each passing day. The film scored an excellent second weekend at the domestic box office, with over 40 crores gross collection, including 17+ crores gross on Sunday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by RJ Balaji, Karuppu has minted approximately 172+ crores gross at the domestic box office through the second weekend, and is now racing towards the 200 crores milestone, which will be the first for Suriya. In Tamil Nadu, the fantasy action drama has beaten the heavyweights to gross one of the biggest second weekends ever. Helped by the super positive word of mouth, the blockbuster film grossed approximately 30.10 crores gross in Tamil Nadu in the second weekend, which is higher than Thalapathy Vijay's Leo (27.40 crores) and superstar Rajinikanth's Jailer (23.40 crores) second weekend collection. Karuppu is behind only Vijay's The Greatest of All-Time and Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan - 1 as the third biggest second weekend grosser in the state. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) All-Time Biggest Second Weekend Grossers In Tamil Nadu S. No. Movie Second Weekend Gross 1 The GOAT ₹ 35.75 Cr 2 PS-1 ₹ 35.05 Cr 3 Karuppu ₹ 30.10 Cr 4 Amaran ₹ 28.35 Cr 5 Vikram ₹ 27.60 Cr 6 Leo ₹ 27.40 Cr 7 Jailer ₹ 23.40 Cr Note: Baahubali 2's Tamil Nadu data not available for the second weekend (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) At the worldwide box office, the Dream Warrior Pictures' production is heading towards 250 crores gross mark after grossing around 240 crores through the second weekend (10 days). In the overseas market, Karuppu has also emerged as Suriya's biggest grosser with an estimated gross collection of around 67 crores. Karuppu is now heading towards 275+ crores finish, and if the momentum continues, it has a chance to enter the 300 crores club. It is already Suriya's biggest blockbuster, and one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all-time. The movie ended Suriya's long dry period and put him into the league of the biggest Tamil stars.

BY SACNILK

Suriya's latest outing, Karuppu (released as VeeraBhadrudu in Telugu), has effectively ended the dry spell at the Tamil box office, turning into a massive commercial juggernaut. After a relatively quiet nine months for the industry, this film has brought the audience back in droves, raking in a staggering worldwide gross of ₹239.40 crore in record time. With an India net collection of ₹148.85 crore and a solid overseas contribution of ₹67 crore, the film has firmly established itself as the highest-grossing Tamil release of 2026 so far. The momentum isn't just limited to the home turf; the movie is finding immense love across the Telugu states and international circuits, proving that the Suriya brand is stronger than ever. Tamil Nadu Milestone: On May 25, the film became the first in Suriya’s career to cross the ₹100 crore mark in Tamil Nadu alone, making it the 24th film in history to enter this elite club. Career Record: Karuppu took just four days to surpass the 13-year-old lifetime record of Singam 2 (₹124 crore), officially becoming the highest-grossing film in Suriya's career. ₹200 Crore Sprint: The film reached the ₹200 crore global milestone in just 8 days, outpacing blockbusters like Mersal, Petta, and Thunivu. BookMyShow Record: It set a new all-time Day 2 record on the platform by selling 690K tickets, narrowly beating out Rajinikanth's Coolie (689K) and Vijay's Leo (646K). Opening Day Strength: The film secured the 4th spot all-time for highest Day 1 ticket sales in Kollywood history with 700K bookings, trailing only Jailer, Leo, and Coolie. Telugu Market Dominance: Reaffirming his status as the Adopted Son of Telugu states, the Telugu version, VeeraBhadrudu, hit a peak booking speed of 43K tickets per hour—a career-high for the actor in that region. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Tamil Nadu Century:It became the 22nd film in history to cross the ₹100 crore mark in Tamil Nadu alone, ending a drought in the state that had lasted since August 2025. Kerala Career Best: The film has now emerged as Suriya's highest-grossing project in Kerala, which has always been a key stronghold for his mass-market appeal. North American Breakthrough: It shattered Suriya's previous records in North America, amassing over $1.1 million in its opening week alone. Middle East Juggernaut: The film is now officially his biggest grosser in the GCC/Middle East, collecting approximately $2.5 million to $2.8 million (₹21 - ₹23.5 crore) by its second weekend. UK Box Office: In just three days, it grossed £235,080, surpassing his previous film Retro to become his number one performer in the territory. Sustained Momentum: Even deep into its second week, the film is maintaining incredible longevity, booking over 255K tickets every 24 hours on digital platforms. The sheer scale of these numbers shows that Karuppu is more than just a hit; it's a revival of sorts for the Tamil trade. By the end of its second Sunday, the total BookMyShow ticket sales had climbed to 36.62 lakh, a testament to the film's broad appeal. With nearly 56,000 shows played worldwide already, the movie is still holding strong in prime properties. While it has already set a high benchmark for 2026, the focus is now on the weekday holds to see just how much more moolah it can add to its already impressive kitty.