Adipurush lost the box office race to Pathaan

Introduction

Adipurush – The clash between two highly anticipated films, Prabhas’ Adipurush, and Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, at the box office was a much-discussed topic in the film industry. Adipurush had a remarkable start with massive opening day numbers, surpassing Pathaan’s initial earnings by a significant margin. However, despite the promising beginning, Adipurush faced numerous challenges that led to its downfall while Pathaan emerged victorious. In this article, we will analyze the factors that contributed to Adipurush’s failure in the box office race against Pathaan.

Outline:

1. Introduction
2. Adipurush’s Record-Breaking Opening
3. The Power of Word of Mouth
   • Negative Word of Mouth Becomes Adipurush’s Bane
4. Pathaan’s Advantage of a Long Weekend
5. Adipurush’s Failure in the All-Important Monday Test
6. The Box Office Figures and Budget
7. Conclusion
8. FAQs

Adipurush’s Record-Breaking Opening

Adipurush, on its opening day, generated phenomenal numbers, earning Rs 86.75 crore net in India and a staggering Rs 126 crore gross worldwide. These figures were exceptional for any film, let alone just one day. The robust opening ignited hopes that Adipurush would become the summer blockbuster that Indian cinema had been eagerly waiting for. Moreover, the fact that Adipurush surpassed Shah Rukh Khan’s previous hit, Pathaan, by a considerable margin further strengthened these hopes.

The Power of Word of Mouth

The performance of both films at the box office can be attributed to the power of word of mouth. Adipurush, with its immense first-day earnings, initially seemed unstoppable. However, negative word of mouth soon became its bane. Despite Prabhas’ star power driving advance bookings, Adipurush received poor reviews, reflected in its low Rotten Tomatoes score of 11%. On the other hand, Pathaan, although a masala film, garnered positive reviews and boasted an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 85%. These positive reviews and favorable word of mouth played a crucial role in driving Pathaan’s success while hindering Adipurush’s prospects.

Negative Word of Mouth Becomes Adipurush’s Bane

Adipurush’s low Rotten Tomatoes score severely impacted its spot bookings. While advance bookings sustained the film through its opening weekend, Adipurush only experienced a marginal jump of under 6% on Sunday. In contrast, Pathaan witnessed a growth of 14% on the same day. Adipurush’s negative word of mouth greatly influenced its subsequent performance, leading to a significant decline in its box office numbers.

Pathaan’s Advantage of a Long Weekend

Pathaan enjoyed the advantage of a long weekend, with its release strategically timed around the Republic Day holiday. Yash Raj Films cleverly released the film a day before the holiday, capitalizing on Shah Rukh Khan’s massive fan following. The positive word of mouth combined with the holiday season helped Pathaan accumulate Rs 70 crore on the second day alone. This positive momentum continued throughout the extended weekend, resulting in Pathaan’s domestic opening weekend collection of Rs 280.75 crore. In comparison, Adipurush, despite its higher opening, managed to gather only Rs

221.10 crore during the same period.

Adipurush’s Failure in the All-Important Monday Test

The success of a film depends on its ability to sustain its presence in theaters after the initial opening. Many films with strong word of mouth have demonstrated the ability to extend their runs by attracting audiences through positive recommendations. The first Monday, which follows the initial weekend, is a crucial test for any film’s longevity. Smaller films often experience minimal declines, ensuring a healthy run. However, big-budget films tend to see more substantial drops in numbers. A drop of under 60% is generally considered acceptable.

Pathaan’s Monday performance was commendable, experiencing a decline of 56%, which met the industry’s expectations. Adipurush, on the other hand, suffered a massive 77% drop on its first Monday. The film continued to decline by at least 30% on subsequent days, resulting in a staggering 94% decrease in per-day earnings by the end of its first week. In contrast, Pathaan’s per-day earnings witnessed a 72% drop, indicating its ability to sustain an audience base.

The Box Office Figures and Budget

At the end of its first week, Adipurush’s global gross stood at just over Rs 350 crore. While this number would be impressive for most films, it falls short of the reported budget of Rs 500-600 crore for the Om Raut directorial. Adipurush’s box office performance raised concerns about its ability to break even and generate significant profits. The film faced the daunting task of surpassing its current earnings to offset its massive budget. Unfortunately, the film lacked the necessary momentum and appeal to achieve this goal, leaving its distributors with potential losses.

Conclusion

Despite an extraordinary start and high expectations, Prabhas’ Adipurush could not sustain its initial success and lost the box office race to Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan. Negative word of mouth, poor reviews, and a significant decline in earnings after the opening weekend contributed to Adipurush’s downfall. Pathaan, with its positive word of mouth, strategic release timing, and strong performance in the Monday test, emerged as the winner in this clash. The contrasting fortunes of these two films highlight the importance of critical acclaim, audience reception, and sustained momentum in the highly competitive world of Indian cinema.