The much-anticipated Vijay-starrer “Leo” has weathered its fair share of controversies. Nevertheless, as it hits cinemas, early reports on the first day’s box office collections are painting an impressive picture.
Industry tracker Sacnilk predicts the film to rake in around Rs 68 crore nett on its opening day nationwide. To put this in perspective, Rajinikanth’s “Jailer,” released in August, earned Rs 44.5 crore on its debut.
The film is anticipated to make approximately Rs 32 crore gross in Tamil Nadu, with Kerala contributing around Rs 12.50 crore gross. In the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana region, it’s expected to bring in Rs 17 crore gross, while Karnataka is projected to add about Rs 14.5 crore gross. Notably, Tamil Nadu boasts the highest occupancy rate at 86.35%, with nearly 1176 showings in Chennai alone. Overall, the gross collections in India are estimated to hit roughly Rs 80 crore, with global figures reaching up to Rs 145 crore.
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala had earlier speculated that the film might cross the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide on its opening day. He stated, “In India, I predict there is a chance of it doing Rs 70 crore on day one. Worldwide, it might do Rs 100 crore on the opening day, based on the current estimation.”
While “Leo” could potentially become the biggest Tamil release of the year, it’s not expected to have a strong showing in the Hindi belt. North Indian multiplexes won’t be screening “Leo” due to the film’s OTT release window. The Tamil Nadu film association currently observes a four-week OTT window, which poses a challenge for North Indian multiplex chains where the OTT window is eight weeks.
Vijay’s last outing, “Varisu,” released earlier this year and earned Rs 26.5 crore on its opening day. It faced stiff competition from Ajith’s “Thunivu,” which also managed to make Rs 26 crore. By the end of its box office run, “Varisu” had garnered a worldwide gross of Rs 297.55 crore.
From its initial poster release, “Leo” has been shrouded in controversy. From the absence of early morning shows to a delayed release for the Telugu dubbed version, the film has faced challenges. It also skipped the customary audio launch event, leaving Vijay’s fans without the chance to see their favorite star in person. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, “Leo” also features Trisha Krishnan and Sanjay Dutt, rumored to be part of the filmmaker’s shared cinematic universe, which includes “Vikram” and “Kaithi.”
