'Kalki 2898 AD' SHATTERS 'RRR' box office record; scores highest North America premiere collection

Director Nag Ashwin's magnum opus 'Kalki 2898 AD', is off to a record-breaking start at the box office. The film starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan, hit a milestone on Day 1 at the ticket windows.
According to reports, the film set a new all-time North American premiere record, surpassing the previous record set by SS Rajamouli's 'RRR' that saw Ram Charan and Jr NTR in lead roles.Interestingly, the film managed to hit the mark, despite being released on fewer screens, showcasing the film's immense popularity among the audiences.

'RRR', which brought together Ram Charan and Jr NTR for the first time on screen, was released on 10.2k screens and garnered $3 million from its premiere shows, making it the first Indian film to cross the $3 million mark. In comparison, 'Kalki 2898 AD' was released on just 8.2k screens but has already grossed $3.5 million from its premiere shows, as announced by the film’s producers on social media.

Going by comments on Reddit, some are alleging that the higher ticket pricing is the reason why the film has managed to break records. "Aren’t they charging like $36 a ticket?" a fan commented. According to the post, the ticket pricing for IMAX shows is around the $35 range, while 'RRR' was around $25.

Meanwhile, at the domestic box office, amid the growing excitement around the film's release, 'Kalki 2898 AD', tickets are being sold for as high as Rs 2,300 in cities like Mumbai. This pricing is not uncommon for big cities and multiplexes. Just last year, Shah Rukh Khan's 'Jawan' which hit screens in September 2023, sold tickets priced as high as Rs 2,400. 'Jawan', directed by Atlee, was Shah Rukh Khan's second major release of the year, following the blockbuster success of 'Pathaan'.

In response to the immense anticipation surrounding 'Kalki 2898 AD', the Andhra Pradesh government has also sanctioned an increase in ticket prices. According to a government order, ticket prices for single-screen theatres have been raised to Rs 75, while multiplexes are allowed to charge up to Rs 125. Additionally, the government has approved an extra show per day, allowing five shows to be screened daily for up to 14 days post-release, instead of the usual four. This measure is expected to significantly boost the film's revenue.

Similarly, the Telangana government has also approved additional shows and hiked ticket prices for 'Kalki 2898 AD', further enhancing its box office prospects.