Indian superstar Rajinikanth’s Tamil-language action comedy “Jailer 2” was the second-biggest film in the world over the Oct. 16–18 weekend, grossing $31.2 million, according to Rentrak estimates. Only Paramount’s “Street Fighter,” with $51.1 million, earned more.
The Nelson Dilipkumar-directed sequel opened in India on, Oct. 15, and grossed an estimated INR224 crore ($23.5 million) across its four-day extended opening. That is the third-highest four-day start on record for a Tamil-language film, and effectively level with another Rajinikanth vehicle, “Coolie,” which managed INR224.25 crore ($23.6 million).
The film began with $7 million on Thursday. Collections dipped on Friday before climbing back through the weekend, with Sunday bringing in $6.5 million.
Tamil Nadu, the southern Indian state where the Tamil-language film industry is based, delivered the biggest share at $8.4 million. The neighboring southern Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana supplied most of the remainder.
In North America, where the film is distributed by Shloka Entertainments, “Jailer 2” grossed $3.2 million over the Friday-to-Sunday frame, debuting at No. 9, taking its total to $5.2 million. Shloka said the film crossed $2 million on its opening day in the territory.
“Jailer 2” follows the 2023 hit “Jailer,” in which Rajinikanth played a retired prison warden drawn back into violence when an idol smuggler threatens his family. He returns as “Tiger” Muthuvel Pandian, with Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu and Mirnaa also reprising their roles. New to the franchise are Tamil actor S.J. Suryah as Bodhi Kalpak and Bollywood star Vidya Balan as Kaantha. Veteran Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty and Malayalam cinema actor Suraj Venjaramoodu also join the cast. Dilipkumar wrote and directed both films for Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Pictures, and Anirudh Ravichander again composed the music.
The sequel also brings in stars from other Indian language industries for brief appearances. Malayalam cinema icon Mohanlal and Kannada star Shiva Rajkumar, both of whom made cameos in the first film, return as Mathew and Narasimha, and Bollywood veteran Jackie Shroff plays Kamdev. Hrithik Roshan turns up as Roddy. The scene reunites Roshan with Rajinikanth 40 years after the 1986 Hindi film “Bhagwan Dada,” in which Roshan appeared as a child.
Elsewhere on the global chart, Sony’s “Resident Evil” ranked third with $22.6 million, followed by Universal’s “Other Mommy” at $17.9 million and “Verity” at $17.6 million.
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