27 October 2023, Mumbai: As Vijay’s much-anticipated starrer, “Leo,” enters its eighth day at the box office, it sets its sights on breaking records, specifically targeting Rajinikanth’s “Jailer,” which amassed a staggering Rs 604 crore worldwide. “Jailer” has held the title of the biggest Tamil film of the year, leaving “Leo” with a challenging journey ahead, as it currently trails behind by Rs 140 crore.
Leo’s Box Office Performance
Despite an initial buzz and release marred by controversies, “Leo” is endeavoring to maintain its presence in theaters. However, the lukewarm response from the audience has cast some doubt on the film’s ability to surpass “Jailer’s” lifetime collection. On the eighth day of its theatrical run, “Leo” managed to rake in Rs 10.25 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk, bringing its net domestic collection to Rs 265.6 crore.
Leo Box Office Insights on Day Eight
On the eighth day, “Leo” reported a 25.92% occupancy in Tamil Nadu, with evening shows witnessing the most significant footfall. In Chennai alone, the film was screened in nearly 900 theaters, achieving an occupancy rate of around 33%. Despite these positive indicators, “Leo’s” global gross collection currently stands at Rs 464.3 crore, as trade analyst Ramesh Bala noted that the film’s first week worldwide gross collection amounted to Rs 461 crore.
A Rollercoaster Journey
“Leo” began its box office journey with a thunderous start, raking in a whopping Rs 140 crore worldwide on its opening day. In the domestic market, the film earned Rs 64.8 crore on the first day. However, it experienced a significant drop of approximately 44% on the second day. The film’s collection saw yet another sharp decrease on the seventh day, plummeting from Rs 30.7 crore on Tuesday to Rs 13.4 crore on Wednesday. The film’s potential for a surge in collections during the second weekend remains to be seen.
Leo’s Battle for Supremacy in Tamil Cinema
“Leo” was initially regarded as a strong contender to challenge the supremacy of Rajinikanth’s “Jailer,” which recorded a remarkable Rs 604 crore in worldwide earnings. “Jailer” holds the distinction of being the most significant Tamil film of the year, and thus far, “Leo” trails it by Rs 140 crore. “Leo” has already carved a spot for itself as the third-highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, trailing behind “Jailer” and “Ponniyin Selvan: I.”
Leo’s Place in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Cinematic Universe
“Leo” is part of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) and takes place in the aftermath of the events in Karthi’s “Kaithi” and Kamal Haasan’s “Vikram.” Lokesh is set to commence his next project with Rajinikanth, although it remains uncertain whether it will be a part of LCU. The film “Leo” also features Sanjay Dutt and Trisha Krishnan in pivotal roles, adding to its star-studded ensemble
By Yashika Desai