The Ayan Mukerji-directed spy thriller "War 2," starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani, has made a significant impact at the box office, crossing the ₹100 crore mark within just two days of its release on August 14, 2025.
On its opening day, "War 2" earned ₹52.5 crore net in India, with ₹29 crore from the Hindi version and ₹23.25 crore from the Telugu version. While this opening was considered healthy, it didn't quite reach the high expectations set for the film, especially since it didn't surpass the ₹53 crore opening of the first "War" movie. Some trade analysts believed that the combined star power of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR should have propelled the film to a higher opening, possibly closer to ₹75 crore or even ₹100 crore.
However, "War 2" showed strong recovery on its second day, coinciding with India's Independence Day, adding approximately ₹56.50 crore to its earnings. Early trade reports suggest a collection of ₹46 crore on Day 2, bringing the total domestic net collection to nearly ₹98 crore. According to Sacnilk, the movie earned ₹107.29 crore in India by the end of its second day. The film's success on Independence Day has led to it surpassing previous Independence Day collection records. Occupancy in theaters also saw a substantial increase, jumping from 29.2% on day one to 49.9% on day two.
Globally, "War 2" has grossed ₹79.95 crore by the end of its second day. While this figure marks the biggest worldwide opening in Hrithik Roshan's career, it only accounts for about 16% of the film's massive ₹325 crore production budget. To be considered a commercial success, the film needs to earn at least ₹650 crore in domestic net collections.
The film has received mixed reviews from critics and online audiences. Despite Jr NTR's popularity, the film's performance in South Indian states has been labeled as "underwhelming," with regional contributions in the ₹60 crore range. Overseas, the film has garnered moderate traction, with an estimated opening day collection of just over $3 million (approximately ₹25 crore).
"War 2" is also facing strong competition from Rajinikanth's "Coolie," which was released on the same day. "Coolie" has opened with ₹65 crore and has earned ₹118.5 crore in total, which is ₹10.5 crore more than "War 2".
Several factors could influence "War 2's" box office performance in the coming days. The Independence Day holiday provides the film with an extended weekend, potentially leading to stronger overall collections. The jump in ticket sales, with over 238,000 tickets sold through online platforms on Day 2, indicates growing audience interest. However, the film needs to maintain its momentum during the weekdays to achieve its target earnings.
