Vijay Deverakonda’s latest spy-action drama, “Kingdom,” kicked off its box office run with a strong opening day, though it appears to be trailing behind his previous hit, “Liger.”
Strong Start at the Box Office
The highly anticipated film “Kingdom” premiered worldwide on July 31, raking in an impressive Rs 7.07 crore on its very first day. This solid performance marks a significant start for the spy thriller starring Vijay Deverakonda.
Industry trackers, including Sacnilk, reported that the movie achieved an overall Telugu occupancy of 56.73% on Thursday. Morning shows led the charge with 63.56% occupancy, followed by afternoon shows at 56.52%, and evening shows at 50.12%. Notably, the Warangal region saw exceptional theatre occupancy, reaching an impressive 85.67%.
Chasing “Liger’s” Record
Despite its strong opening, “Kingdom” faces a challenge in surpassing Vijay Deverakonda’s highest opening-day collection, currently held by “Liger.” That film had a massive debut, collecting Rs 15.95 crore on its first day. While “Kingdom” has performed well, it still has a significant gap to close to match this previous success.
Facing Fierce Competition
“Kingdom” is entering a crowded theatrical landscape, battling for audience attention against several other major releases. Mohit Suri’s “Saiyaara,” starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, is already a strong contender, having crossed the Rs 270 crore mark.
Other films vying for screens include Pawan Kalyan’s “Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit” and “Mahavatar Narsimha.” Additionally, “Dhadak 2,” featuring Tripti Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi, and “Son of Sardaar 2” are also set to hit cinemas soon, adding to the competitive environment.
What Critics Are Saying
Early reviews for “Kingdom” suggest a mixed reception. An excerpt from SCREEN’s review noted that while the film delivers on its promises, it struggles to connect with the audience on an emotional level.
The review highlighted that despite a meticulous setup and juggling many elements, “Kingdom” doesn’t quite find a central thread to bring them into harmony. This could impact its long-term performance.
Behind the Scenes
“Kingdom” is directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and produced by a collaboration of Sithara Entertainments, Srikara Studios, and Fortune Four Cinemas. The film also features a talented supporting cast, including Satyadev, Bhagyashri Borse, Venkitesh, and Manish Chaudhari, alongside Vijay Deverakonda.
- “Kingdom” earned Rs 7.07 crore on its opening day.
- It achieved 56.73% overall Telugu occupancy.
- The film is behind Vijay Deverakonda’s highest opener, “Liger” (Rs 15.95 crore).
- “Kingdom” faces tough competition from several other new releases.
With a strong initial collection and a packed release schedule ahead, it will be interesting to see how “Kingdom” performs in the coming days.
