“Stree 2” is surpassing all box office expectations, achieving a significant global milestone within just 12 days of its release. Following the events where Vicky (Rajkumar Rao) and his friends dispelled the spirit haunting Chanderi, they now confront a new supernatural menace—a headless ghost abducting women. This Indian horror-comedy sequel arrives six years after the original film, which marked the beginning of the Maddock Supernatural Universe franchise. Released during India’s Independence Day celebrations, “Stree 2” enjoyed a remarkable debut, even breaking into the United States domestic top 10 chart with $2.57 million, contributing to a global total of $9.1 million.
As reported by Forbes, “Stree 2” is dominating the Bollywood box office, having surpassed $70.1 million globally, with $59.3 million of that revenue coming from India alone. This achievement has led the film to set several records, including becoming the highest-grossing Hindi-language movie of 2024, surpassing “Fighter,” the second-highest-grossing Indian movie of the year behind “Kalki 2898 AD,” and the ninth-highest-grossing Hindi-language movie of all time. Additionally, the horror-comedy ranks as the 19th highest-grossing Indian movie ever.
Why is “Stree 2” Breaking Box Office Records?
There is an Increasing Interest in Supernatural Bollywood Films.
The box office triumph of “Stree 2” coincides with a growing fascination for Indian supernatural and horror films. While Bollywood has seen past successes in this genre with films like “Bhool Bhulaiyaa” and Ram Gopal Varma’s “Bhoot,” maintaining a consistent audience has been challenging. However, this trend is changing, as demonstrated by the expansion of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa” into a franchise 15 years after its original release, and the success of Ajay Devgn’s “Shaitaan,” which has a sequel underway. Nonetheless, the box office performance of “Stree 2” is unprecedented for a horror/supernatural film, as Bollywood’s record-breaking movies are typically romantic, historical, or action-packed.
As “Stree 2” continues its successful box office run, the likelihood of another sequel becomes unavoidable.
Several factors contributed to the remarkable commercial success of “Stree 2.” The original 2018 film was a surprise hit, receiving generally positive reviews for its blend of scares and humor, as well as Rao’s performance. It grossed approximately $21.7 million globally, prompting the creation of a franchise that includes four more films, with two additional ones in development. Aside from one horror movie, three films are part of the expanded universe—”Bhediya,” “Munjya,” and “Stree 2.” However, except for “Munjya,” these films have not replicated the box office success of “Stree” and its sequel.
Ultimately, the sequel’s triumph can be attributed to its strategic release and the star power of Shraddha Kapoor. “Stree 2” premiered during the holiday period of India’s Independence Day and the Rakshabandhan festivities, benefiting from a five-day extended weekend. Being a sequel, it had a strong familiarity with audiences in terms of content, premise, and cast. The film also capitalized on Kapoor’s popularity, placing her at the forefront of its marketing efforts, an intriguing choice given her limited screen time compared to co-stars Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, and Aparshakti Khurana.
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As “Stree 2” continues its box office dominance, the development of another sequel seems inevitable. Producer Dinesh Vijan has already confirmed that “Stree 3” is in the works, with a release anticipated in 2026. The film also paves the way for further storytelling within the universe, with Kapoor’s character still lingering in the narrative. This development is expected to spark more interest in the Maddock Supernatural Universe, with “Vampires of Vijaynagar” and “Bhediya 2” scheduled for release next year.
Source: Forbes
Stree 2
- Horror
- Comedy
The town of Chanderi is being haunted again. This time, the women are mysteriously abducted by a terrible headless entity. Once again, it's up to Vicky and her friends to save the town and their loved ones.
