War 2 worldwide box office Day 1: Jr NTR rescues Hrithik Roshan’s film from lowest-ever Spy Universe opening; movie makes Rs 52 crore

On the dazzling first day of its release, War 2 charged onto screens and into hearts, scooping up approximately ₹52.5 crore across India. It was a bold debut—amid mixed expectations, mixed reviews, and fierce competition.

At face value, ₹52 crore already reads like victory. But within the Spy Universe, expectations loom large. War 2 slotted in as the third-highest opener in its franchise, yet still sits a notch below its predecessors—and notably behind the mega-thundering launch of Coolie starring a super-starrer whose presence continues to ripple across Indian cinema. So what’s the emotional geography here?

First, there's relief. In some regions, especially the Hindi belt, the response was lukewarm—occupancy mirrored that, reflecting the high bar the film was measured against. But in the Telugu-speaking south, where Jr NTR commands near-mythic fandom, business boomed. His energy, charisma, and pull lifted the film’s numbers and, in many ways, its spirit.

₹29 crore of the total came from Hindi screens, with ₹23 crore more pouring in from Telugu—and Tamil made its modest yet meaningful contribution. The story behind the numbers feels like a tale of two Indias: in significantly crowded northern metros, fans held back until word-of-mouth settled; in the south, passion fanned the first-day frenzy.

There’s hunger here—an emotional tug-of-war between what the film promised and how audiences received it. Early social media chatter called the stunts flashy but predictable, the stories glossy but shallow. Still, few could argue with the electricity sparked when Hrithik and Jr NTR shared the screen—“terrific chemistry,” one early commenter called it, enough to pull crowds even if the narrative didn’t. For many, every punch, every choreographed move, carried the weight of fandom and anticipation.

The film may be Spain-sized in its ambition but felt India-sized in resonance. Released on a national holiday, its timing added both pressure and possibility—crowds flocked to cinemas, expectations soared, and the film's fate hung in that mix of box office numbers and emotional buzz.

Yes, by pure volume, it was outpaced by the Tamil heavyweight, but the emotional recovery here is remarkable. Jr NTR’s debut magnetic performance turned a wobbly launch into something sturdy—a tether back to hope for the Spy Universe.

Looking ahead, the film now carries a fragile air of “make or break.” Positive word-of-mouth, continued regional traction, and floating back of VFX or critiques could sway the narrative.

For now, Day 1 stands as an emotional midpoint: not the triumphant return many hoped for, nor the flop feared—it’s saved by star power, but challenged by the looming legacy. A beginning that thrills, trembles, and beckons on equal measure.

Whether War 2 becomes a replay of old glories or carves its own path will depend on one thing: audiences feeling that pulse again—day after day, screen after screen.