The cinematic clash is upon us! Allu Arjun’s highly anticipated sequel, Pushpa 2: The Rule, is set to ignite US theaters on December 4th, sending ripples of excitement through fanbases worldwide. While the anticipation is palpable, early projections paint a somewhat nuanced picture of the film’s potential North American box office performance, particularly during its crucial premiere screenings.
Recent Telugu cinema blockbusters have set incredibly high benchmarks. Jr. NTR’s Devara, for instance, achieved a staggering $3.7 million gross on its opening day, with a significant portion—$2.8 million—attributed to premiere show ticket sales, according to Great Andhra. Prabhas’s Kalki 2898 AD soared even higher, earning a remarkable $5.5 million on its first day, with premiere show earnings reaching nearly $4 million. These figures establish a challenging precedent for Pushpa 2.
Industry insiders, as reported by Great Andhra, suggest that unless there’s a dramatic last-minute surge in ticket sales, Pushpa 2 may fall short of matching these phenomenal premiere numbers. This might temper expectations, especially given the enthusiastic predictions from fans and Allu Arjun himself. Despite this, the film still promises to be a monumental moment in Allu Arjun’s career trajectory.
His previous highest-grossing film in North America, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, achieved a lifetime gross of $3.6 million. Pushpa 2 is projected to surpass this figure within its first one or two days of release, establishing a new personal best for the star at the North American box office. This demonstrates the enduring appeal of Allu Arjun and the high expectations surrounding this highly anticipated film.
Meanwhile, back in India, the fervor surrounding Pushpa 2 is undeniable. The film has already shattered records on BookMyShow, achieving a remarkable milestone: It became the fastest film to sell one million tickets on the platform, outpacing even industry giants like Kalki 2898 AD, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, and K.G.F.: Chapter 2. This impressive feat underlines the massive anticipation and widespread excitement surrounding the movie’s release, with cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Pune leading the ticket booking charge, according to Ashish Saksena, COO – Cinemas, BookMyShow. This rapid ticket sales success showcases the immense pre-release buzz and suggests potentially strong overall box office performance for Pushpa 2, even if it doesn’t quite mirror the US premiere success of recent competitors.
