With predictions that it would cross the ₹300 crore mark in its first week. However, the tussle over who deserves credit for the film's success has directly impacted its branding. Both Rajkummar Rao and Abhishek Banerjee are struggling to claim the film’s success as their own, although it’s largely Shraddha Kapoor's fan base that contributed the most to the film’s triumph.
Released on August 15 alongside films by two veteran actors—Akshay Kumar's 'Khel Khel Mein' and John Abraham's 'Veda'—'Stree 2' also faced competition from South Indian films like 'Double Smart', 'Thangalan', and 'Mister Bachchan'. Despite these challenges, 'Stree 2' proved that when stories resonate with the audience and are presented with a crisp screenplay, the presence of big stars is no longer essential for a film's success. Since 'Stree', none of Rajkummar Rao's films have been hits, and Shraddha Kapoor's last film, 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar', did not perform exceptionally well either.
Despite all this, the buzz around 'Stree 2' before its release led the producers to announce special shows the night before the official release. These hurriedly organized shows alone brought in around ₹8.50 crore a day before the release. On its opening day, the film earned an additional ₹51.80 crore. 'Stree 2' had such a spectacular opening that all other films released that weekend were overshadowed. The positive word of mouth from audiences further benefited the film, helping it cross the ₹200 crore mark within the first four days of release.
However, the producers of 'Stree 2' tried to create some confusion among the audience by releasing the gross collection figures (total income from ticket sales). The truth is that due to internal conflicts among the film's cast, proper promotion could not take place post-release. As a result, 'Stree 2': narrowly missed reaching the magical ₹300 crore net collection mark at the domestic box office in its first week. So far, only three films—'Jawan', 'Pathaan', and 'Animal'—have achieved this feat in Hindi cinema.
'Stree 2' held its preview shows on August 14, and its first week, including Thursday, August 22, spanned nine days. During these nine days, the film grossed approximately ₹290.85 crore, including Thursday's provisional figures. This makes it the fourth highest-grossing film in the first week in Hindi cinema history. Previously, this spot was held by Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel's film 'Gadar 2'
Film | First Week Collection |
---|---|
Jawan (2023) | ₹391.33 crore |
Pathaan (2023) | ₹364.15 crore |
Animal (2023) | ₹338.63 crore |
Stree 2 (2024) | ₹290.85 crore |
Gadar 2 (2023) | ₹284.63 crore |