Top 10 Highest Opening Day Collections in India
The definitive ranking of the biggest Day 1 box office performances at the Indian box office, across all languages.
India Net figures. Last updated: February 2026
| # | Movie | Year | Language | Day 1 (Net) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pushpa 2: The Rule ₹175+ Cr Gross (all languages) | 2024 | Telugu/Multi | ₹80+ Cr Net |
| 2 | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion First film to cross ₹100 Cr on Day 1 (Gross) | 2017 | Telugu/Multi | ₹75+ Cr Net |
| 3 | Jawan Shah Rukh Khan's biggest opener | 2023 | Hindi | ₹65+ Cr Net |
| 4 | KGF Chapter 2 Highest for a Kannada film | 2022 | Kannada/Multi | ₹54+ Cr Net |
| 5 | RRR SS Rajamouli's second entry in top 10 | 2022 | Telugu/Multi | ₹53+ Cr Net |
| 6 | War Highest non-holiday opener at the time | 2019 | Hindi | ₹51+ Cr Net |
| 7 | Thugs of Hindostan High opening but sharp drops after Day 1 | 2018 | Hindi | ₹50+ Cr Net |
| 8 | Pathaan Highest Republic Day opener ever | 2023 | Hindi | ₹57+ Cr Net |
| 9 | Tiger 3 Diwali release | 2023 | Hindi | ₹44+ Cr Net |
| 10 | Animal Ranbir Kapoor's biggest opener | 2023 | Hindi | ₹63+ Cr Net |
All figures are estimated India net collection. Actual figures may vary by 5-15%.
What Makes a Big Opening Day?
A movie's opening day performance is driven by several factors:
- Advance bookings — The biggest openers almost always have massive advance booking numbers. Premium formats (IMAX, 4DX) and wide screen counts help maximize Day 1 revenue.
- Star power — Movies led by top stars (Shah Rukh Khan, Prabhas, Allu Arjun, etc.) drive fans to theaters on Day 1 regardless of reviews.
- Holiday release — Releasing on a national holiday (Republic Day, Independence Day, Diwali, Christmas) dramatically increases Day 1 footfalls.
- Multi-language release — Pan-India releases in Telugu + Hindi + Tamil + other languages collect from a much larger base than single-language releases.
- Franchise / sequel factor — Sequels to blockbusters carry built-in anticipation. Baahubali 2, KGF 2, and Pushpa 2 all benefited from massive franchise momentum.
Does Opening Day Predict Lifetime?
Not always. A strong opening day shows hype and advance booking demand, but lifetime collection depends more on word-of-mouth and weekday holds. Notable examples:
Big Opener + Legs
Baahubali 2, Pushpa 2, and Jawan had massive openings AND strong weekday holds, leading to enormous lifetime totals. Good content + hype = blockbuster.
Big Opener, Sharp Drop
Thugs of Hindostan had a ₹50+ Cr opening day but dropped 50%+ daily due to poor reviews. It barely recovered its investment despite the massive start.
Highest Opening Day by Language
Figures are approximate and vary by source.