Understanding Why Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s War 2 Flopped Despite ₹365 Crore Earnings

Understanding War 2’s Box Office Performance

Despite collecting ₹365 crore across its theatrical release and selling around 1.2 crore tickets, War 2, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, has been labeled a flop. This conclusion comes after the film’s run came to an end, leading to a surprising analysis of its financial outcomes.

Initial Success and Rapid Decline

Released on August 14, coinciding with India’s Independence Day, War 2 had a spectacular opening but saw its earnings dwindle swiftly. As the dust settles on its final performance, the disheartening verdict is clear: the film is a failure.

Box Office Earnings Breakdown

During its five-week run, War 2 accumulated ₹236 crore net in India. This figure included ₹178 crore from the Hindi version and a disappointing ₹57 crore from the Telugu version. The ineffectiveness of Jr NTR’s star power in the Telugu region was a significant disappointment for the filmmakers.

On the international front, the film didn’t fare much better, earning less than $10 million overseas. Overall, its worldwide collections stood at ₹365 crore, with approximately 1.2 crore tickets sold in India and over 2 million overseas.

Why Was War 2 Declared a Flop?

Despite its impressive ticket sales, various analysts deemed War 2 a box office failure. The film’s high production budget, approximately ₹400 crore, demanded it to generate between ₹650-700 crore internationally to break even. Unfortunately, it could only achieve about half of this figure.

Moreover, while the 1.2 crore audience figure seems substantial, it marks War 2 as the least-viewed installment in the YRF Spy Universe franchise, trailing even the lesser-performing Tiger 3, which earned ₹470 crore in 2023. The film struggled to reach the standards set by its predecessor, War, which made ₹475 crore back in 2019.

Details on War 2

Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 also stars Kiara Advani and Anil Kapoor. As the sequel to War, it plays a critical role in the expansive YRF Spy Universe. The post-credits scene introduces the next film, Alpha, featuring an all-female cast led by Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, slated for release in December.

With such high expectations and the resulting fallout, what are your thoughts on the future of the YRF Spy Universe? How might the industry respond to this setback?