Kantara Chapter 1 becomes highest-grossing film worldwide in opening week, surpasses $50 million mark

PTC Web Desk:  Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 has taken the global box office by storm, emerging as the highest-grossing film in the world during its opening week. The film’s phenomenal performance has not only set new records in India but also outshone several major Hollywood releases.

In just seven days, Kantara Chapter 1 amassed an estimated Rs 379 crore gross ($42 million) from India alone. Trade experts predict the film’s domestic earnings will cross Rs 400 crore ($45 million) by the end of its first extended week. Adding another $8 million from overseas markets, the movie’s total worldwide collection now stands at an impressive $53 million.

This staggering figure has helped Kantara Chapter 1 surpass the global earnings of Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, which earned $50 million over its exclusive weekend run. It has also overtaken Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which collected around $40 million worldwide in its second week. Even the re-released Avatar: The Way of Water couldn’t match up, earning less than $10 million during the same period.

Originally made in Kannada, Kantara Chapter 1 has turned into a pan-India blockbuster, winning hearts across multiple languages. The Hindi version crossed Rs 100 crore net by Wednesday, while the Kannada version hit the same milestone by Friday. The Telugu version has performed impressively with Rs 60 crore net, and the Tamil and Malayalam versions have each brought in over Rs 20 crore in collections.

Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, the film stars Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram in pivotal roles. A prequel to the 2022 sleeper hit Kantara, this installment transports viewers a thousand years before the events of the first film, blending mythology, emotion, and folklore. Both audiences and critics have lauded its storytelling and visual grandeur.

Following the massive success of Kantara Chapter 1, a third film, Kantara Chapter 2, has already been announced, promising to continue the saga’s cinematic legacy.