Spider-Man: Brand New Day Overtakes Pathaan, Kantara Chapter 1 with Rs 72.44 Crore Opening
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has become the first Hollywood film to cross the Rs 70 crore mark on its opening day in India. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film earned Rs 72.44 crore gross on Thursday, July 30. The net collection, after tax deductions, stood at Rs 60.60 crore.
This is the first time a Hollywood film has opened above Rs 70 crore gross and Rs 60 crore net in India. The previous best was Avengers: Endgame's Rs 65 crore gross and Rs 53.60 crore net. The jump is significant, showing the expanding market for superhero films in India.
The previous opening day record for a Hollywood film in India was held by Avengers: Endgame (2019), which had collected Rs 65 crore gross and Rs 53.60 crore net. Before that, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) had opened with Rs 48.75 crore gross and Rs 40.30 crore net. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has surpassed both these films, setting a new benchmark for Hollywood releases in the country.
The film's opening day collection also eclipses the first day numbers of recently successful Indian films. Siddharth Anand's Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, had opened at Rs 67.19 crore gross in 2023. Kantara Chapter 1, a Kannada-language film that released pan-India, collected Rs 73.29 crore on its opening day. However, Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, still holds the record for the highest opening day ever in India, with a gross of Rs 76.10 crore. It is also noteworthy that Spider-Man: Brand New Day's collection came without any block bookings, which are bulk ticket purchases that sometimes prop up opening day numbers.
The film saw an overall occupancy of 56.58 per cent nationwide, according to Sacnilk. Morning shows began with 51.22 per cent occupancy, which remained virtually unchanged during the afternoon. The evening shows saw occupancy climb to 58.78 per cent, and night shows recorded 65.11 per cent occupancy, indicating strong audience interest.
According to early estimates, the film has grossed more than Rs 1,000 crore worldwide. It is scheduled to release in the United States on July 31, a day after its India debut. The collection is particularly notable as it came on a non-holiday weekday, indicating genuine audience pull. Industry analysts suggest that if the film maintains its opening day momentum, it could surpass the lifetime India collections of Avatar: The Way of Water (Rs 477.50 crore) and Avengers: Endgame (Rs 445 crore) to become the highest-grossing Hollywood film in India.
With positive word-of-mouth expected, trade analysts are watching whether the film can sustain its opening day momentum through the weekend. A strong Friday-to-Sunday performance could further solidify its position as the biggest Hollywood film in India. Historically, films that open well in India often see a surge over the weekend, and this film is expected to follow a similar pattern.
The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who replaced Jon Watts, the director of the previous three Spider-Man films. It is the 38th title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The cast includes Tom Holland and Zendaya in lead roles, with Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Florence Pugh, Tramell Tillman, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Ruffalo in supporting roles.
The Spider-Man franchise has a strong history in India. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) was one of the highest-grossing Hollywood films in the country. The new film's opening day performance suggests that the character remains a major draw for Indian audiences, even as the local film industry has delivered several big hits this year. The film's performance in India will be closely tracked as it competes with upcoming local releases in the coming weeks.
