Will Sikandar Make More Money Than Pushpa 2?

‘One
of
the
most
significant
factors
contributing
to
the
optimism
for
2025
is
the
lineup
of
films
featuring
Bollywood’s
three
superstar
Khans.’

Pushpa
2:
The
Rule
broke
box
office
records
in
the
entertainment
industry
not
just
because
fans
were
excited
to
watch
Allu
Arjun
reprise
his
role
as
Pushpa
Raj
but
also
due
to
a
surge
in
the
movie’s
average
ticket
price
(ATP).

However,
despite
the
hype
created
by

Pushpa
2:
The
Rule,
India’s
multiplex
chains
expect
a
moderate
rise
in
ATP
this
year,
likely
driven
by
an
anticipated
lineup
of
movies
in
Bollywood,
Hollywood
and
regional
films.

In
terms
of
overall
box
office
collection,
multiplex
chains
like
Cinepolis
India,
PVR
INOX
and
Mukta
A2
Cinemas,
along
with
trade
analysts,
remain
optimistic
that
2025
will
outperform
the
underwhelming
performance
of
2024.

“We
are
highly
optimistic
about
2025
and
believe
it
will
be
a
landmark
year
for
the
industry,”
Devang
Sampat,
managing
director,
Cinepolis
India,
told

Business
Standard.

“The
lineup
for
the
year
is
nothing
short
of
extraordinary,
featuring
a
robust
mix
of
Bollywood
blockbusters,
regional
gems,
and
Hollywood
tentpoles
that
are
already
generating
tremendous
buzz.
Coupled
with
innovative
marketing
strategies
and
the
rising
appeal
of
premium
formats
like
IMAX
and
4DX,
we
anticipate
record-breaking
audience
engagement.”

Komal
Nahta,
a
film
trade
analyst,
and
Girish
Wankhede,
a
movie
trade
expert,
both
expect
a
stronger
box
office
performance
in
2025.

“One
of
the
most
significant
factors
contributing
to
the
optimism
for
2025
is
the
lineup
of
films
featuring
Bollywood’s
three
superstar
Khans:
Salman
Khan,
Shah
Rukh
Khan
and
Aamir
Khan.
Each
of
these
actors
carries
immense
star
power
and
a
dedicated
fan
base,
which
often
translates
into
box
office
success,”
Wankhede
explained.

Salman
Khan’s

Sikandar,
Shah
Rukh
Khan’s

King
and
Aamir
Khan’s

Sitare
Zameen
Par
are
slated
for
release
in
2025.

Sikandar
is
expected
to
release
around
Eid,
and

Sitare
Zameen
Par
is
planned
for
a
Christmas
release.

South
Indian
cinema,
he
added,
will
continue
the
trend
of
capturing
audience
attention
and
driving
box
office
numbers
this
year.
Additionally,
2025
will
also
feature
several
franchise
movies
commanding
their
fan
bases,
including

Jolly
LLB
3,
Raid
2,
Housefull
5,
Baaghi
4,
Conjuring:
Last
Rites,
Avatar
3
and

De
De
Pyaar
De
2.

“2024
came
with
its
challenges,
but
it
also
reaffirmed
the
resilience
and
love
for
cinema
among
audiences.
With
an
exciting
slate
of
films
lined
up
for
2025,
we’e
optimistic
about
a
stronger
box
office
performance,
said
Rahul
Puri,
Managing
Director,
Mukta
A2
Cinemas.

“Our
efforts
will
be
centred
on
creating
memorable
movie-going
experiences,
introducing
unique
promotions,
and
strengthening
our
connection
with
audiences
to
drive
higher
footfalls
and
box
office
revenue.”
Puri
added.

This
year
has
a
mixed
lineup
of
movies
across
genres,
starting
with
the
Akshay
Kumar
starrer

Skyforce,
the
Shahid
Kapoor
starrer

Deva,
the
Vicky
Kaushal
starrer

Chhava,
the
Sajid
Nadiadwala-produced

Sikandar,
and
the
Hollywood
film

Captain
America.

“In
2024,
the
highest
ATP,
which
contributed
significantly
to
box
office
revenue,
was
for

Pushpa
2:
The
Rule
because
tickets
ranged
from
Rs
250
to
Rs
1,200,”
Girish
Wankhede,
a
movie
trade
expert,
told

Business
Standard.

Wankhede
also
stated
that
the
weekend
prices
for

Pushpa
2:
The
Rule
skyrocketed,
helping
the
movie
achieve
high
box
office
collections
quickly.
The
movie
earned
Rs
82
crore
(Rs
820
million)
on
its
first
Sunday,
the
highest
ever
for
any
film
on
a
Sunday
(for
its
Hindi-dubbed
version).

Overall,
in
2024,
Sampat
said
ticket
prices
were
generally
lower
than
in
2023
due
to
a
lack
of
consistent
blockbuster
content
and
the
introduction
of
more
discount
schemes
and
promotional
days
aimed
at
increasing
footfalls.

Apart
from
Bandreddi
Sukumar’s
directed
film,
India’s
multiplex
chains
saw
Nag
Ashwin’s

Kalki
2898
AD,
the
Rajkummar
Rao
starrer
horror-comedy

Stree
2,
the
Diwali
releases

Singham
Again
and

Bhool
Bhulaiyaa
3,
Hollywood’s
action-comedy

Deadpool
vs
Wolverine
and

Mufasa:
The
Lion
King
generating
high
ATP
in
2024.

“The
changes
in
average
ticket
prices
were
influenced
by
multiple
factors,
including
a
stronger
lineup
of
high-budget,
star-studded
films,
increased
demand
for
premium
formats
like
IMAX
and
4DX,
and
inflationary
pressures
on
operational
costs,”
said
Puri.