Box Office Verdict: Average
Fighter, India’s first major aerial action thriller starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, has collected ₹215.2 crore domestically (net) within three weeks, currently ranking #32 in Filmymojo’s 2024 box office charts. The Republic Day release established new benchmarks for aerial action films in India.
Box Office Breakdown
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Collection | ₹215.2 crore (as of Feb 15) |
| Current Rank | #32 (2024 Releases) |
| Genre | Aerial Action/Patriotic |
| Release Date | January 25, 2024 |
| Director | Siddharth Anand |
| Lead Cast | Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor |
Genre Comparison
- Average Action Film Collection (2024): ₹78.4 crore
- Fighter vs. Genre Avg: 175% above the benchmark
- Top 2024 Films:
- Fighter (₹215.2 crore)
- Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (₹80.69 crore)
- Merry Christmas (₹18.32 crore)
Hrithik Roshan’s Box Office Dominance
Fighter continues Hrithik’s streak of ₹200cr+ grossers:
| Movie | Collection (₹ Cr) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| War | 318.17 | 2019 |
| Fighter | 215.2 | 2024 |
| Vikram Vedha | 78.77 | 2022 |
| Super 30 | 150.72 | 2019 |
(*Still running in theaters)
Key Insight: Hrithik now holds the record for highest-grossing aerial action film in India.
Aerial Action Film Rankings
How Fighter compares to other aviation-themed films:
| Movie | Collection (₹ Cr) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter | 215.2 | 2024 |
| Gunjan Saxena | (OTT Release) | 2020 |
| Rangoon | 22.1 | 2017 |
The Republic Day Advantage
Fighter leveraged the holiday period brilliantly:
- Opening Day: ₹24.6 crore
- Republic Day (Day 2): ₹41.2 crore (+67% jump)
- First Week: ₹146.8 crore
- Weekend 2: ₹38.4 crore
Remarkable Trend: The film showed unusual weekday strength with just 42% drop post-holiday.
Controversies & Challenges
- Pakistan Backlash: Certain sequences led to ban in Gulf countries
- VFX Criticism: Some aerial shots compared unfavorably to Hollywood standards
- Urban-Rural Divide: 68% collections from metro multiplexes
- Budget Pressure: Needs ₹300cr+ to enter profit zone (₹250cr production cost)
Audience Reception
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- CinemaScore: A- (Excellent for action genre)
- Social Media Buzz:
- 1.2M tweets opening week
- “Sher Khul Gaye” trended for 3 days
- Repeat Value: 19% audiences watched IMAX versions multiple times
Final Verdict
With ₹215.2 crore and counting, Fighter has established a new template for aerial action films in India. While facing stiff competition from HanuMan, its strong urban performance and technological achievements make it a watershed moment for Indian action cinema.
Watch Recommendation: A must-watch in IMAX for action fans, though the patriotic theme may not appeal to all.
Data Source: Filmymojo Box Office Database