Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao’s latest cinematic venture, ‘Stree 2’, has taken the box office by storm, setting new benchmarks and breaking records with its exceptional opening day collections. Premiering amidst stiff competition, this horror-comedy has emerged unscathed, cementing its place as the highest opener of the year.
Despite facing a three-way clash this Independence Day with John Abraham’s ‘Vedaa’ and Akshay Kumar’s ‘Khel Khel Mein’, ‘Stree 2’ has outperformed expectations. Released in theaters on August 15, the film garnered a remarkable Rs 64.8 crore through a combination of its first-day earnings and paid previews held nationwide on the preceding night, August 14.
Leading trade analyst, Taran Adarsh, detailed the day one box office success of ‘Stree 2’ in a comprehensive report. He stated, “#Stree2 CREATES HISTORY… When the #Boxoffice speaks louder than words… #Stree2 defies *all* pre-release expectations and predictions… Opens to a FANTABULOUS START, emerging as the BIGGEST OPENER OF 2024 [#Hindi films].”
Adarsh’s analysis emphasized how ‘Stree 2’ has surpassed previous high-grossing films. “The *Day 1* business of #Stree2 is AHEAD of #Pathaan [₹ 55 cr], #Animal [₹ 54.75 cr], #KGF2 Hindi [₹ 53.95 cr], #War [₹ 51.60 cr], and #TOH [₹ 50.
.75 cr],” he added. This cinematic achievement is monumental, considering ‘Stree’ (the first installment) had collected Rs 60.39 crore in its debut week, whereas ‘Stree 2’ has shattered that record within merely a day and previews.
The much-publicized clash with ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘Vedaa’ proved insignificant as ‘Stree 2’ outshined its competitors by significant margins both in urban centers and in mass appeal, indicating an unprecedented success in various regions. Reflecting on this, Adarsh commented, “Imagine the potential of #Stree2 had it been a solo release.”
Breaking down the earnings, from the Rs 64.80 crore total, the film’s previews on Wednesday contributed Rs 9.40 crore, with the full-day earnings on Thursday amounting to Rs 55.40 crore. Impressively, ‘Stree 2’ managed to supersede every pre-release forecast, demonstrating impressive audience turnout and ticket sales. Industry observers are noting this achievement as a game-changer for the horror-comedy genre, due to the staggering figures posted by ‘Stree 2’.
Directed by Amar Kaushik, ‘Stree 2’ leverages the successful elements of the original movie and introduces new layers to its eerie realm, aiming to surpass the first installment in all possible aspects. The storyline resumes in the spectral town of Chanderi, now terrorized by a new malevolent entity known as Sarkata. Contrasting the previous ghost who targeted men, Sarkata in ‘Stree 2’ preys upon modern, empowered women.
The film’s narrative focuses on the combined efforts of Bicky (played by Rajkummar Rao), Bitu (Aparshakti Khurana), JD (Abhishek Banerjee), and Rudra (Pankaj Tripathi) as they unify with the enigmatic Stree in an attempt to safeguard their village from Sarkata’s vicious onslaught. By shifting the focus onto a different kind of spectral threat, ‘Stree 2’ explores new dimensions of its horror universe while maintaining a comedic undertone, which has been instrumental in attracting audiences.
Further analysis from trade pundits suggests that ‘Stree 2’s success could catalyze a wider trend of horror-comedy films gaining traction in the Indian film market. With its pioneering box office collection, the film has set a new bar for future releases within the genre.
In conclusion, ‘Stree 2’ not only subverts the expectations for sequels but also provides a robust framework for future horror-comedy films to follow. It has not only retained the essence of what made the original a hit but also expanded its universe with captivating twists. As it stands, Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao’s blockbuster is not just a cinematic success but a monumental moment in box office history, proving that creative narratives combined with strategic releases continue to captivate Indian audiences.
