The Hindi horror-comedy "Stree 2" has achieved monumental success at the global box office, earning an astounding ₹874.58 crore worldwide as of October 10, 2024. The film, a sequel to the 2018 hit "Stree," premiered on August 15, 2024, coinciding with India's Independence Day, and quickly established itself as a major blockbuster in Indian cinema.
Record-Breaking Performance
"Stree 2" rapidly broke multiple box office records since its release. It became the fastest film to cross the ₹400 crore mark worldwide, achieving this feat within its first week. Themovie also recorded the second-highest opening day for a Hindi film, collecting ₹64.80 crore. By its eighth day, the film had already surpassed the ₹300 crore mark globally. Its impressive run continued into later weeks, setting a new record for the highest fifth-week collection in Indian cinema history with ₹16 crore.[en+3]
The film's domestic performance was equally strong, reaching ₹739.40 crore in India by October 10, 2024. "Stree 2" surpassed the domestic net collection of Shah Rukh Khan's "Pathaan" (₹524.53 crore) to become the second highest-grossing Hindi film in India with roughly ₹527 crore. It also outranked Prabhas's "Baahubali 2" (Hindi version) to secure its place as the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, accumulating ₹516.40 crore in just over three weeks. The film is recognized as the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2024 and the third highest-grossing Indian film overall in 2024.[en+3]
Journey to Success
Directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, "Stree 2" saw its principal photography begin in July 2023 and conclude by mid-2024. The film stars Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurana. It debuted alongside other films like "Vedaa" and "Khel Khel Mein" but quickly dominated the box office. Its opening day collection alone marked the highest for Rajkummar Rao's career and the second-highest for Shraddha Kapoor.[en+3]
Audiences and critics responded positively to the film's unique blend of horror and comedy. The film's strongopening continued into its first weekend, with impressive collections. It earned ₹51.8 crore on its opening Thursday, followed by ₹31.4 crore on Friday, ₹43.85 crore on Saturday, and peaked on Sunday with ₹55.9 crore. This consistent performance propelled the film to break multiple records.[en+2]
Critical and Commercial Acclaim
"Stree 2" garnered positive reviews from critics upon its release. Its success further cemented the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, a franchise that includes films like "Bhediya" and "Munjya." The film’s ability to captivate audiences both domestically and internationally highlights its broad appeal. Its international gross reached ₹134.30 crore by October 10, 2024. The film performed particularly well overseas, despite not having a prominent male lead.[en+4]
The movie's impact extends beyond its financial success. It received 14 nominations at the 70th Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Director for Amar Kaushik, Best Actor for Rajkummar Rao, and Best Actress for Shraddha Kapoor, ultimately winning Best Female Playback Singer.[en]
The Maddock Horror-Comedy Universe
"Stree 2" serves as the fourth installment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, building on the success of its predecessor, "Stree" (2018). The film introduces a new antagonist, 'Sarkata,' a headless villain connected to the original Stree character. This narrative expansion has resonated well with viewers, reinforcing the franchise's popularity. Producer Dinesh Vijan's vision for this interconnected universe continues to gain traction in the industry.[en+2]
The film's budget ranged between ₹50–105 crore, making its worldwide gross of over ₹874 crore a significant return on investment. The continued strong performance of"Stree 2" underscores the enduring appeal of well-crafted horror-comedies in the Indian market.[m+2]
Enduring Impact
"Stree 2" has already made significant history in Indian cinema with its unprecedented box office collections and numerous broken records. The film's achievements, far exceeding targets of a few lakhs, showcase its widespread popularity and strong hold over audiences. Its success has propelled it into the ranks of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, solidifying its legacy as a cinematic phenomenon. Discussions are reportedly underwayfor a spin-off focused on Shraddha Kapoor's character, indicating the potential for further expansion within this successful cinematic universe.[en]
