Salman Khan’s ‘Sultan’ Storms Bollywood, Offshore Box Office; Sets Multiple Records – Update
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s every film seems to become an even bigger event than the last in a market that is 90% skewed to local fare. In India this week, folks are referring to “Salmania” as Khan’s latest, Sultan, has been embraced by critics and is throwing off unprecedented numbers. I reported below on initial numbers coming out of India and overseas, and Yash Raj Films now has come through with confirmed figures and even more records set
Sultan began its international rollout on Wednesday in India and some 50 day-and-date markets. The India total stands (as below) at 180.36 crore net ($27.1M). While box office generally is reported in gross numbers, India takes a different tack, with the standard being a net sum which is tallied after an entertainment tax. The scores reported earlier below are net. If we look at Sultan in gross terms, the Indian total rises to 252.2 crore or $37.7M.
Offshore, the updated numbers from producer-distributor Yash Raj show a total $13.7M. In gross box office that becomes a $51.4M weekend, which would makeSultan far and away the No. 1 movie in international markets this frame, besting China’s Cold War II, which had a $44M start. Taking the net number from India (which is the one that Deadline typically uses), the total is $40.8M for the No. 2 slot internationally.
Khan continued to break records in India this weekend. Added to those I cited below, Yash Raj has provided a staggering list of all-time milestones. To wit: Sultan has the highest advance booking ever, the biggest pre-Eid opening day box office, is the fastest to cross 150 and 175 net crore (five days), boasts the biggest opening in Yash Raj history and is first movie to gross 345 crore worldwide on an opening weekend.
Outside India, Sultan set the biggest opening day and weekend ever for Bollywood in the UAE-GCC and the fastest to $5M (five days). Pakistan likewise saw the biggest opening day and weekend ever and a speed record to $1M (three days). The UK and Ireland had the top opening day and weekend ever, and Australia and New Zealand also set debut weekend records.
The film will enter the Top 10 ever among Bollywood net titles today, and as Salmania continues, is expected to have a strong ongoing run.
source-deadline.com
