The North American box office is turning out to be a tough test for this weekend’s Telugu releases.
With advances showing weak momentum, Saturday has become a decisive day for all the films currently in theatres.
Without a big pickup in collections, sustaining beyond the weekend may be difficult.
Telusu Kada is struggling to take off. Its premieres and Day 1 gross stand at $187,000, with $100,000 coming from premieres alone.
The film’s breakeven is $1.5 million, and Saturday advances are alarmingly low at just $22,000. If collections don’t improve today, the film could be heading toward a disaster at the box office.
Dude, starring Pradeep Ranganathan, is leading the pack with a relatively better performance. Its total from premieres and Day 1 is $330,000, including $180,000 from the Tamil version and $150,000 from the Telugu version. Premieres alone contributed $170,000.
However, the breakeven point for the film is $2.3 million, which means it needs a strong run and excellent word-of-mouth to sustain.
Mithra Mandali has been hit hard by negative reviews and opened poorly with just $47,000 from premieres and Day 1. Its breakeven is $300,000, which now looks almost impossible to reach.
K-Ramp opened to mixed reviews and needs a strong push to pick up momentum. Early reactions suggest the film will resonate with audiences who enjoy light-hearted family dramas with a blend of human emotions and comedy.
With dull advances and tough competition, Saturday has become a crucial turning point for all three films. A strong surge in collections is the only hope to keep their theatrical run alive beyond the weekend.
