Rockstar Yash has made a triumphant return to the big screen four years after the massive success of 'KGF Chapter 2' with his latest venture 'Toxic'. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the dark gangster drama created an unprecedented wave at the box office, surpassing the ₹100 crore mark on its very first day of release. However, 'Toxic' is not the sole Indian movie to cross this benchmark on day one. Historically, 11 other Indian feature films have breached the ₹100 crore worldwide or domestic barrier on their opening day.
Sequels Leading the Opening Day Rampage
Franchises and highly anticipated sequels have consistently dominated opening day collections in Indian cinema. Prashanth Neel's 2022 blockbuster 'KGF Chapter 2' amassed approximately ₹116 crore in India across all language dubs on its opening day. Yash's portrayal of Rocky Bhai alongside the unresolved suspense of the first installment drove audience turnout to stadium-like levels inside theaters.
Similarly, SS Rajamouli's 2017 magnum opus 'Baahubali 2: The Conclusion' etched its name in box office history by generating around ₹121 crore in India on day one. Audiences flooded cinema halls to uncover the answer to the burning narrative question of why Kattappa killed Baahubali. In 2024, Allu Arjun and director Sukumar delivered 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', which built on its predecessor's massive popularity to cross ₹100 crore nationwide on day one. Furthermore, Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao's 'Stree 2' created a global sensation by approaching the ₹100 crore club on its opening day alone.
Rajamouli's Vision and Prabhas's Worldwide Pull
Following 'Baahubali 2', SS Rajamouli returned in 2022 with 'RRR', starring Junior NTR and Ram Charan. The film achieved over ₹130 crore in domestic earnings on day one, powered by its high-octane action set pieces and background music score.
Pan-Indian star Prabhas has also consistently driven monumental day-one numbers worldwide. Nag Ashwin's 2024 sci-fi mythological epic 'Kalki 2898 AD' accumulated a staggering ₹190 crore globally on its first day. In 2023, Prashanth Neel's 'Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire' pulled in over ₹90 crore in India and ₹175 crore worldwide on opening day. Despite surrounding controversies, Prabhas's 2023 release 'Adipurush' grossed ₹140 crore worldwide on day one based on star power alone.
Shah Rukh Khan's Dominance and High-Intense Dramas
Shah Rukh Khan spearheaded a massive box office resurgence in 2023. His collaboration with director Atlee on 'Jawan' generated ₹129 crore globally on opening day, including more than ₹75 crore in India. Earlier that year, his comeback project 'Pathaan' registered a ₹106 crore worldwide opening, despite releasing on a non-holiday weekday.
Rounding out the elite list is Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 2023 release 'Animal'. Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol, the film shocked industry trackers by generating ₹116 crore worldwide on day one, overcoming its A-rated violence certification through intense dramatic momentum.
