Max box office collection day 1: Kichcha Sudeep’s actioner is off to a roaring start with houseful shows in single-screens, earns around Rs 8.5 crore

Max box office collection day 1: Kichcha Sudeep's Kannada action-thriller Max has opened to a notable response at the box office, earning around Rs 8.5 crore.

By: Entertainment Desk

Mumbai | December 26, 2024 10:15 AM IST

3 min read

Kichcha Sudeep's Kannada actioner was released in theatres on December 25.

Max box office collection day 1: Kichcha Sudeep’s Kannada action-thriller Max has opened to an admirable response at the box office, amidst competition from other releases, including Upendra’s UI and ongoing films like Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule.

Data from industry tracking website Sacnilk reveals that Max generated significant interest in advance booking, with over 1.08 lakh tickets sold, resulting in Rs 3.38 crore in pre-sales revenue. Additionally, Sacnilk’s early estimates indicate that the film collected approximately Rs 8.5 crore nett on its opening day. The film’s performance will be closely watched in the coming days to see if it can sustain its initial momentum.

On Thursday, a Christmas holiday for many across the country, Max recorded an overall occupancy of 79.90% in Kannada-speaking regions. The film’s occupancy rates fluctuated throughout the day, starting with a moderate 62.34% in the morning shows. The afternoon shows saw a significant increase to 87.56%, while the evening and night shows maintained a strong occupancy rate, with 89.80% and 89.00%, respectively.

In terms of city-wise performance, Bengaluru reported an occupancy of 83.00% across 612 shows, while Mysuru saw an occupancy of 93.00% from 77 shows. Other smaller cities, such as Shivamogga and Hubballi, also posted notable occupancy rates.

Also read | Pushpa 2 worldwide box office collection day 21: Allu Arjun’s blockbuster continues to dominate with Rs 1100 crore domestic haul, remains number one choice across India

Max faces competition from other Kannada releases, including UI, a science fiction dystopian actioner, which has already collected Rs 25.30 crore at the Karnataka box office. The film’s producers, Kalaipuli S Thanu and Kichcha Sudeep, have invested significantly in the project, which has received attention for its production values.

Max is facing stiff competition not only from Upendra’s UI but also from a slew of other recent releases all over the country, including Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule, Varun Dhawan’s Baby John, directed by Kalees, Mohanlal’s Malayalam fantasy film Barroz, and the Hollywood film Mufasa: The Lion King.

Despite the intense competition, Max appears to have struck a chord with the masses in the region, breathing new life into single-screen theaters. The film’s popularity is evident in the overwhelming response from single-screen audiences, with theaters reporting houseful shows, indicating a strong connect with the local crowd.

The next few days will be crucial in determining Max’s box office trajectory. The film’s performance will be monitored to see if it can maintain its initial pace and emerge as a commercial success.

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