BY CHRISTA LINCY

If you have been following the South Indian box office lately, you know that a Thalapathy Vijay release is less of a movie opening and more of a state-wide event. This commercial dominance is a reality that industry veterans like Tirupur Subramaniam often highlight, noting that Vijay's film can contribute up to 26 percent of the entire industry's annual revenue. As we look at the numbers for his latest outing, Jana Nayagan, it is worth seeing how it measures up against the massive benchmarks he has set over the last few years. While the final figures are impressive, the journey to this release was actually quite rocky, especially with the significant last-minute hurdles the production had to navigate. To understand where Jana Nayagan stands, we have to look at the peak of Vijay's career: Leo. That film remains the undisputed gold standard for him, pulling in a staggering 46.36 crore in all-India advance bookings for day one. It sold over 2.4 million tickets before the first show even flickered on screen. Following that is Beast, which maintained a strong hold with a total day one gross of 31.75 crore, and then The Greatest Of All Time, which saw a solid 24.5 crore advance despite mixed pre-release buzz. Even films like Master and Varisu, which operated in different market conditions, brought in 17 crore and 11.49 crore respectively. This brings us to Jana Nayagan, which has officially clocked in a day one advance gross of 15.44 crore without block seats. When you factor those block seats in, the number jumps to a much more competitive 21.26 crore. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) We can also look at the regional split to see where the growth is coming from. For Jana Nayagan, the Tamil version is doing the heavy lifting with over 15.2 crore in advance gross. However, the Hindi and Telugu markets have been much quieter, contributing less than 25 lakhs combined. In contrast, when we look back at Leo, it managed over 6.8 crore from Telugu and 1.3 crore from Hindi in advance alone. This suggests that Jana Nayagan is currently tracking as a more localized blockbuster rather than a pan-India breakout. The show count analysis also gives us a peek into distributor confidence. Jana Nayagan is opening with roughly 9,188 shows across India. While this is a step down from Leo's massive 14,060 show count, it is remarkably similar to the scale of Varisu. Considering factors like deilay in acquiring the CBFC Certificate and the leak that happened just a month ago, the fact that exhibitors have still allocated over 9,000 shows is a huge win for the film. It shows that the trade still has immense faith in the drawing power of the Thalapathy brand regardless of pre-release controversies. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) If you look at the BookMyShow trends, the film had a very sluggish start. On July 16, it was moving about 11,000 tickets, which then actually dropped to just 5,400 tickets on July 17. This dip coincided perfectly with the reports of a major plot leak and rumors that the film might be delayed due to technical censorship issues. For a moment, it looked like the momentum might stall. However, the fan base responded in a big way once the makers cleared the air. By July 19, ticket sales skyrocketed to 236,000 in a single day, showing a clear recovery from the leak scare. By the day before release, Jana Nayagan had secured 731,000 tickets on BMS, placing it as the fifth-highest pre-seller in recent history, just behind Jailer and ahead of Varisu. 𝗕𝗠𝗦 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 - A day before release 1. Coolie - 1.82M 2. Leo - 1.69M 3. TheGoat - 859K 4. Jailer - 849K 5. JanaNayagan - 731K (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When we break down the performance in the national multiplex chains—the PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis markets—the film is performing with a very specific regional focus. For the day one advance in these chains, Jana Nayagan has sold roughly over 7,000 tickets, resulting in a gross of 44 lakhs. PVR is leading the charge here with a contribution of 30 lakhs, followed by INOX at 11 lakhs, and Cinepolis at 3 lakhs. While these national chain numbers might seem modest compared to a massive Pan-India hit like Leo, they reflect a film that is leaning heavily on its core Tamil market, where the occupancy is sitting at a healthy 19 percent in these premium venues. Logically, what we are seeing is a film that has overcome significant external pressure. The total ticket sales across all platforms have reached approximately 671,000, and the show count is healthy at over 9,100 shows nationwide. While it hasn't quite reached the stratosphere of Leo or Beast, the fact that it surpassed the 21 crore mark with block seats—despite the leak and the uncertainty of a delay—proves that the Thalapathy brand is resilient. It is a solid performance that keeps him firmly at the top of the box office hierarchy, even when the cards are stacked against the release.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 22 - Marvel Studios has another massive hit on its hands. The first full trailer for Avengers: Doomsday has amassed an astonishing 503 million views worldwide in its first 24 hours, setting a new record as Disney's biggest trailer launch of all time. The impressive debut underscores the enormous anticipation surrounding the next chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its star-studded ensemble. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The 503 million views were recorded across all official digital platforms globally, making Avengers: Doomsday the second-biggest 24-hour trailer launch in history. The only film ahead of it is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which currently holds the record with 718.6 million views in its first day. Nevertheless, Doomsday comfortably surpassed the previous Marvel benchmark set by Deadpool & Wolverine, which debuted with 365.5 million views. It also outperformed Spider-Man: No Way Home (355.5 million) and Avengers: Endgame (289 million). The extraordinary response reflects the immense excitement surrounding the film, which brings together some of Marvel's biggest heroes while also marking the highly anticipated return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU in the role of Doctor Doom. The trailer generated widespread discussion across social media immediately after its release, with fans dissecting every frame for clues about the multiverse storyline and the film's major character reveals. The record-breaking trailer launch is expected to translate into equally strong box office momentum. With advance ticket sales already off to a phenomenal start, scoring $16.5 million in the first 24 hours in North America, industry analysts believe Avengers: Doomsday is well-positioned to deliver one of the biggest worldwide openings in cinema history when it arrives in theatres, continuing Marvel Studios' tradition of blockbuster event films. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 21 - Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey continues to rewrite the record books even after its release. The filmmaker's ambitious epic has achieved another remarkable milestone, with every scheduled IMAX 70mm screening at London's iconic BFI IMAX selling out through September 10, 2026. The unprecedented demand has transformed the venue into a global destination for cinephiles, with fans travelling from across the world just to experience the film in its intended format. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The BFI IMAX has confirmed that all 173 IMAX 70mm screenings scheduled across August and into early September have been completely booked. According to reports, moviegoers have flown in from countries including Singapore, Canada, and the United States specifically to watch The Odyssey on one of the world's premier IMAX screens. Such demand is virtually unheard of for a theatrical release and further highlights Christopher Nolan's ability to turn premium-format cinema into a must-see event. The sellout comes just weeks after The Odyssey shattered BFI IMAX's all-time first-day ticket sales record when advance bookings opened. Since then, the film has continued to dominate the box office worldwide, while premium-format screenings have remained in exceptionally high demand. The BFI IMAX website currently lists the entire run of IMAX 70mm screenings as sold out, with additional dates expected to be added to meet overwhelming audience interest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Odyssey has sold out at the BFI IMAX theater in London until September It’s one of the 41 cinemas in the world that can show The Odyssey in authentic IMAX 70mm pic.twitter.com/TSSIWVv8Xg— ScreenTime (@screentime) July 21, 2026 Adding to the film's achievements, The Odyssey has also broken the BFI IMAX's opening weekend box office record, surpassing Star Wars: The Last Jedi to become the venue's biggest three-day performer ever. The accomplishment further cements Nolan's reputation as one of the few filmmakers capable of driving audiences to theatres purely for the cinematic experience, with The Odyssey proving that premium large-format exhibition remains a major attraction for movie lovers worldwide.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, July 21 - Marvel Studios and Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day is shaping up to be one of the biggest Hollywood releases ever in India. The Tom Holland starrer has generated unprecedented pre-release buzz, with exhibitors and trade circles witnessing demand levels that are rarely seen for an international title. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) More than a week before its July 30 release, the film is already dominating ticket sales across the country, raising expectations of a historic start at the Indian box office. According to trade projections, Brand New Day is expected to collect a massive 50-60 crore gross on its opening day in India, easily among the biggest for a foreign title. If the film opens on the projected lines, it will put it within touching distance of Avengers: Endgame, which still holds the record for the biggest opening day by a non-Indian film with around 65 crore gross. If the current momentum continues through release week, Brand New Day could become the first Hollywood film in years to seriously challenge that historic benchmark. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's booking trends have been nothing short of extraordinary. Despite being over a week away from release, Brand New Day has been selling around 2,000 tickets every hour on BookMyShow since last week. Such sustained demand is almost unheard of this far ahead of release, with booking momentum remaining remarkably consistent day after day instead of relying on short-lived spikes. What makes the trend even more impressive is that even major Indian blockbusters rarely witness such consistent ticket sales more than two weeks before release. The response highlights the immense popularity of Spider-Man among Indian audiences and suggests that the film is on course for an event-level opening. Should bookings continue at the current pace before accelerating closer to release, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will have a realistic opportunity to challenge Avengers: Endgame for the biggest opening ever by a Hollywood film at the Indian box office.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Christopher Nolan has once again proven that for Indian audiences, his films are more than just movies—they are high-end cinematic events. As first reported by Bollywood Hungama, his latest masterpiece, The Odyssey, is currently rewriting the record books for IMAX screenings in India, achieving numbers that have left trade analysts stunned. The film has achieved a feat that seems almost impossible on paper. It collected a massive ₹15.33 crore in just its first three days from a tiny footprint of only 34 IMAX screens across the country. To put that in perspective, while the film earned a total of ₹61.40 crore in India over its opening weekend, nearly 25 percent of that revenue came from just those 34 premium screens. The remaining 75 percent was spread across approximately 2,700 standard screens, highlighting an extraordinary demand for the premium experience despite the significantly higher ticket prices. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Let us look at the day-wise momentum that fueled this surge. On its opening Friday, July 17, the film sold over 45,700 tickets in the IMAX format alone, pulling in ₹4.72 crore with an occupancy of nearly 80 percent. Saturday saw even higher interest, reaching a peak of ₹5.36 crore with a staggering 86.3 percent occupancy. The momentum held firm on Sunday with ₹5.24 crore from nearly 50,000 ticket sales. Perhaps most impressively, the Monday hold remained rock-steady at ₹3.34 crore with a 63.1 percent occupancy, bringing the four-day IMAX total in India to ₹18.68 crore. This performance has effectively shattered the previous record held by Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which released in May 2025. The Odyssey now officially holds the highest-ever opening weekend for any IMAX release in Indian history, even outperforming locally produced big-budget spectacles in this format. This local success is part of a global trend where the film earned $52 million from 885 IMAX screens worldwide during its opening weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The craze is far from over as the film heads into its second week. Trade experts note that the demand for the coming weekend is already hitting fever pitch. In many cities, bookings for the next Saturday and Sunday are filling up fast as soon as they open. For instance, Broadway Cinemas in Coimbatore has already opened its schedules until Wednesday, July 29, and many of those shows are already nearing a sell-out status well in advance. With such a powerful start, industry analysts believe The Odyssey has a very strong chance of crossing the ₹150 crore net mark in India during its lifetime run. Given the exclusive demand for the IMAX experience, it is likely that the film will maintain its hold on these premium screens for several weeks to come, potentially pushing its total even further than current projections suggest.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, July 20 - The countdown for Thalapathy Vijay's swan song Jana Nayagan has begun as the film continues to post solid booking numbers ahead of its theatrical release. The film has already amassed strong pre-sales across India after full-fledged booking started on July 19, reaffirming the massive anticipation surrounding Vijay's final film. The bookings have been consistently growing with each passing day, putting the film on course for one of the biggest openings of 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As of 5 PM on July 21, the political actioner has sold tickets worth around 17 crores gross for the opening day, including around 7.50 crores gross in the home state, Tamil Nadu, while worldwide sales are around 33 crores. However, while the overall advance booking figures are excellent, the booking trend has been slightly different from what a section of the trade had anticipated. Many industry insiders expected shows to sell out almost instantly, considering the historic significance of Vijay's farewell film. There are even projections that Jana Nayagan can challenge for the biggest domestic opening in Tamil cinema. Instead, the bookings have grown steadily rather than explosively, with occupancy improving day by day instead of witnessing immediate sell-outs, even though there are a couple of theatre chains which are witnessing near sold-out screenings. The current trend indicates that Jana Nayagan is likely in the 50-60 crore gross range opening, which itself would be an extraordinary achievement. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Jana Nayagan First Day Advance Booking Report The excitement around the film, however, is real, and the final number may still exceed expectations. With a couple of days remaining before release, and last-minute ticket sales yet to come, there is still room for the film to gain further momentum. Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan stars Thalapathy Vijay alongside Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and Mamitha Baiju. The film is set to hit theatres on July 23 and marks the end of Vijay's acting career. While it may not be rewriting booking records in the manner some expected, the film is nevertheless heading towards a phenomenal opening, with all eyes now on whether strong spot bookings can push it even closer to the all-time domestic opening benchmarks. Raavanamavan daa for a reason 🔥#JanaNayaganFromJuly23The Hon'ble Chief Minister @actorvijay @TheKVNofficial @KvnProductions #HVinoth @hegdepooja @anirudhofficial @thedeol @_mamithabaiju @Jagadishbliss @LohithNK01 @RamVJ2412 @TSeries pic.twitter.com/zTC6EegRkj— KVN Productions (@KvnProductions) July 20, 2026