MUMBAI: Aamir Khan has done it again: Setting the domestic cash registers ringing, his latest release ‘PK’ has emerged as the second biggest opener of 2014.
In its maiden weekend, the film has collected Rs 95.21 crore (Rs 952.1 million) at the domestic box office and has become the second highest opening weekend grosser of 2014. Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’ continues to hold the biggest opening weekend record for 2014 and for all time with a whopping Rs 108.86 crore (Rs 1.09 billion).
While ‘PK’ had a below-expected start on Friday, the film, which was released in over 4,000 screens across India and a record 844 screens across 40 countries, saw a phenomenal jump on Saturday and Sunday.
The film collected a record Rs 38.24 crore (Rs 382.4 million) on Sunday, which is 30 per cent higher from Saturday. Its Friday and Saturday collections were at Rs 26.63 crore (Rs 266.3 million) and Rs 30.34 crore (Rs 303.4 million) respectively.
Trade analysts say that the Friday–Sunday growth of 52 per cent is unprecedented for a big movie and that the positive word of mouth has helped the film.
Most critics have given a favourable verdict on the film, especially its first half, calling the second half slightly disappointing.
However, the concept and message of the film have taken it ahead of Salman Khan’s ‘Kick’, which collected Rs 83.83 crore (Rs 838.3 million) and Ajay Devgn’s ‘Singham Returns’ which netted Rs 77.69 crore (Rs 776.9 million) in their respective first weekends.
Higher ticket prices at multiplexes also worked in the film’s favour.
Overseas collection
Internationally also, with some markets and screens yet to report, the cumulative international gross box office for ‘PK’ is around Rs 47.6 crore (Rs 476 million) or $7.68 million.
According to trade and Rentrak estimates, the film stands at No. 4 worldwide box office this weekend among all films currently in theatres worldwide, including ‘The Hobbit’, ‘Night at a Museum’ and ‘Penguins of Madagascar’.
In North America, it has been the highest opening weekend for any Hindi film. The first day collection was $991,000. On Saturday it was $1.4 million and Sunday’s reported collection was $1.05 million. With 35 sites yet to report, the first weekend total is around $3.46 million.
Meanwhile, UK box office has also crossed $1 million mark and reported collection of £649,117 ($1,038,587). Saturday saw 47 per cent jump from Friday collections. Day 1 collection was £171,000, Day 2 was £252,000 and Day 3 was £225,000.
In Australia, ‘PK’ is now the second highest opening weekend ever for a Hindi film with cumulative collections of AUD 680,524. Marginally behind ‘Dhoom 3′, ‘PK’ is also the highest grossing opening day for a Hindi film at the Australian box office with AUD 161,857 on Day 1.
‘PK’ collections jumped 42 per cent on Day 2 in the region, while Day 3 clocked AUD 288,437 at the box office, making ‘PK’ is the third highest grossing film in Australia this weekend, with ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘Horrible Bosses 2′ ahead of it.
In the Gulf, the film was released on Friday and the reported box-office collection is $1.57 million with three screens outside the UAE yet to report.
Day 1 collection was at $768,000, while Day 2 and Day 3 collections were at $524,000 and $283,000 respectively.
With Christmas holidays around the corner, ‘PK’s business is expected to grow further.
The film stars Aamir Khan as an alien named PK. It also stars Anushka Sharma, Sushant Singh Rajput, Boman Irani and Sanjay Dutt in important roles.