Indian cinema has reached new heights over the last decade, with several films breaking traditional barriers of box office success. One of the most exciting benchmarks for films in India is the ₹100 crore worldwide gross mark on the opening day. This milestone is a clear indication of a film’s massive popularity, star power, and fanbase reach even before the end of the first weekend. Most recently, Jr NTR’s Devara Part 1 has become the 12th film to enter this elite ₹100 crore opening day club, continuing the trend of high-octane mass entertainers dominating the Indian box office. This article explores Devara Part 1’s success, examines the ₹100 crore opener club, and highlights the driving forces behind these big-budget blockbusters. Devara Part 1, directed by Koratala Siva, stars Jr NTR in the lead and has been one of the most anticipated films of the year. With Jr NTR’s growing international fame post RRR, this film had sky-high expectations. And it delivered on all fronts. Star Power: Jr NTR, one of Telugu cinema’s biggest stars, commands a massive fanbase, not only in the South but across India and abroad, especially after the success of RRR. His association with the film created a massive pre-release buzz. Director’s Vision: Koratala Siva, known for his commercial hits like Bharat Ane Nenu and Srimanthudu, is known for blending mass appeal with socially relevant themes. Fans were eager to see his next offering, and Devara Part 1 proved to be a cinematic spectacle that lived up to the hype. Pan-India Appeal: Following the trend of pan-India releases, Devara Part 1 was marketed across multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. The wide release enabled the film to cater to audiences beyond its original Telugu-speaking states. International Recognition: Jr NTR’s star power post-RRR has significantly boosted his recognition internationally. Fans around the globe were keen to see him in action, contributing to a strong overseas box office performance, particularly in regions like the USA, the UAE, and Australia. High-Octane Action and Visuals: The teaser and trailers of Devara Part 1 showcased breathtaking action sequences and grand visuals, setting high expectations for a thrilling cinematic experience. As audiences flocked to theaters on the first day, they were treated to a visually stunning film with massive crowd-pleasing moments, further driving box office collections. Jr NTR’s Devara Part 1 is the latest addition to a small but rapidly expanding list of Indian films that have grossed over ₹100 crore worldwide on their opening day. These films represent the pinnacle of Indian cinematic success, driven by massive production budgets, extensive marketing campaigns, and strong pre-release anticipation. Massive Star Power: A film’s lead actor plays a crucial role in its opening day success. All the films in this club star the biggest names in Indian cinema, such as Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Prabhas, and Salman Khan, who have massive followings both in India and abroad.
Advance Bookings: The buzz created before a film’s release through teaser trailers, promotional events, and word of mouth can lead to record-breaking advance bookings. Many films in the ₹100 crore club witnessed strong advance sales, ensuring packed theaters on the first day itself. Big Budget and Marketing: The films that enter this club are often backed by enormous budgets, enabling filmmakers to create grand spectacles that attract a wide audience. Additionally, marketing campaigns that span weeks or months leading up to release play a pivotal role in creating hype and guaranteeing a massive day-one audience turnout. Here is a look at the films that have grossed over ₹100 crore worldwide on their opening day: SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus, starring Jr NTR and Ram Charan, RRR took the world by storm with its colossal production value, gripping story, and mesmerizing performances. The anticipation for the film led to massive pre-release ticket sales, and it shattered records with an opening day gross of ₹225 crore worldwide. Perhaps the film that changed the Indian box office forever, Baahubali 2 was a national and international phenomenon. Directed by SS Rajamouli and starring Prabhas, it was the first Indian film to break the ₹200 crore barrier on its opening day. Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited return to the big screen with Pathaan proved to be a resounding success. The film, part of Yash Raj Films’ spy universe, grossed ₹145 crore on its first day worldwide, riding high on the star power of Khan, as well as stellar action sequences and an edge-of-the-seat narrative. Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2 had set the bar high for pan-India films with its gritty, action-packed narrative. The sequel grossed ₹134 crore globally on its opening day, further solidifying the dominance of South Indian cinema in the nationwide market. Another Shah Rukh Khan-starrer, Jawan, directed by Atlee, saw a tremendous opening day thanks to the actor’s immense fanbase, high-octane action, and Atlee’s direction, which appealed to mass audiences. The film opened to ₹125 crore globally, setting the tone for a successful run. Prabhas, post-Baahubali, had massive expectations surrounding him, and Saaho opened to a whopping ₹125 crore worldwide, despite mixed reviews. Its action-packed sequences and international locations contributed to the film’s box office success. Starring Tamil superstar Vijay, Sarkar grossed ₹120 crore on its opening day, showcasing the draw of regional cinema when a film is marketed to a pan-India audience. Vijay’s strong fanbase, coupled with director AR Murugadoss’ storytelling, resulted in an explosive day-one box office. Despite negative reviews, the Aamir Khan-starrer Thugs of Hindostan managed to gross ₹110 crore globally on its first day. The film’s strong marketing campaign, grand visuals, and star-studded cast contributed to this opening. Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar came together in Shankar’s sci-fi epic 2.0, a sequel to Enthiran. The film’s massive scale and the anticipation around its visual effects helped it gross ₹105 crore on its first day. Adipurush, based on the Ramayana and starring Prabhas, saw immense curiosity leading up to its release. Though it received mixed reviews, the film opened to ₹105 crore worldwide, driven by Prabhas’ post-Baahubali fame.
