India Box Office: ‘Stree 2’ Surpasses $70 Million Mark

Amar Kaushik’s latest release, Stree 2, has taken the box office by storm, surpassing the impressive $70 million mark within just twelve days of its release. The film, a sequel to the 2018 hit Stree, has proven to be a substantial success both domestically and internationally. As of Monday, Stree 2 has accumulated a notable $59.3 million in India and a total global gross of $70.1 million. The film stars Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in the lead roles, with Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurrana contributing key supporting performances.

Released on August 15, Stree 2 capitalized on an extended five-day weekend that began with India’s Independence Day and continued through the Rakshabandhan festival. This period provided a unique advantage for the film, allowing it to maximize its box office potential during a time when many viewers had time off from work and school. The movie’s opening was marked by a remarkable global gross of $9.1 million, setting a high bar for its subsequent performance. Within its first two days, the film had already earned $14 million worldwide, with $11.9 million coming from the Indian market.

The film’s success continued to grow over the opening weekend. By the third day, Stree 2 had grossed $20.5 million in India and $22.4 million globally. The extended five-day weekend allowed the film to achieve a total of $32.8 million in India and $38.9 million worldwide by the end of its initial run. Despite a slight dip in collections as the workweek began, Stree 2 managed to sustain its momentum. Within the first week of its release, the film had amassed $46.3 million globally, with $39.2 million coming from Indian theaters alone. This performance reflects the film’s strong reception and continued appeal to audiences.

Stree 2 has set several new records in the Hindi film industry. It has surpassed Fighter, directed by Sidharth Anand and featuring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, as the highest-opening Hindi film of 2024. Additionally, Stree 2 has exceeded the opening day collections of the Hindi version of the Telugu sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD. The film has achieved the second-highest opening for a Bollywood film ever, trailing only behind Jawan, directed by Atlee and starring Shah Rukh Khan, which had an opening gross of $8.9 million. This achievement also marks the highest opening for both Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, underscoring their growing star power and the film’s widespread appeal.

The success of Stree 2 can be attributed to its successful blend of horror and comedy, a hallmark of the franchise. The film continues the story from the original Stree, which was an unexpected box office success in 2018. Following the success of Stree, Maddock Films ventured into similar horror-comedy territory with Bhediya, starring Varun Dhawan, released in 2022, and Munjya, which debuted earlier this year. Stree 2 marks the fourth installment in Maddock Films’ supernatural universe, continuing the legacy established by the original film.

In Stree 2, the narrative picks up with the young village boy Vicky (played by Rajkummar Rao) and his friends facing a new and formidable evil. This time, the threat comes in the form of a headless spirit that targets women with a modern perspective. Unlike the original film, where a female spirit abducted men, Stree 2 introduces a male spirit that instills fear among women, adding a fresh twist to the storyline. Amar Kaushik, who directed both Stree and Stree 2, skillfully combines elements of gender dynamics and supernatural themes to create a compelling narrative.

The film’s ability to address gender balance through its plot, juxtaposing masculine and feminine forces, adds depth to the story and enhances the film’s thematic complexity. Stree 2 not only entertains but also engages with broader societal themes, making it a standout entry in the horror-comedy genre. With its continued success and record-breaking performance, Stree 2 has firmly established itself as a significant player in the Hindi film industry, pushing the boundaries of genre and audience expectations.