The Singham and Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchises have carved their niches in Bollywood’s box office landscape, captivating audiences with their distinctive genres. Both franchises have seen significant gaps between instalments, adding to the anticipation for their forthcoming releases. The Singham franchise, which had a 3-year gap between its first (2011) and second (2014) parts, is now gearing up for Singham Again after a decade-long wait. In contrast, Bhool Bhulaiyaa returned with a sequel in 2022, 15 years after the original (2007), and is set to release Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 just two years later in 2024.
With the box office consistently growing year after year, franchises like Singham and Bhool Bhulaiyaa have the opportunity to reach new heights. As both series prepare for their next chapters, the question on everyone’s mind is: who will emerge as the box office champion? Bollywood Hungama delves into analyzing the franchise and its performance in India, overseas, and worldwide markets
India Box Office Performance
Singham Franchise
– Ranked 18th at the India box office with a cumulative total of ₹240.92 crore.
– Singham (2011) – ₹100.30 crore
– Singham Returns (2014) – ₹140.62 crore
Over a decade, the Singham franchise has become synonymous with intense action, patriotism, and Ajay Devgn’s iconic portrayal of a righteous cop. The series’ box office numbers reflect its popularity, particularly in India’s mass belts. With Singham Again set to release after a 10-year hiatus, it will be interesting to see how the franchise adapts to modern cinematic trends and expectations.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa Franchise
– Ranked 19th at the Indian box office with a total collection of ₹235.02 crore.
– Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) – ₹49.10 crore
– Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) – ₹185.92 crore
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 was a resounding success, reinvigorating the franchise with Kartik Aaryan’s modern take on a horror-comedy hero. Despite the 15-year gap between the two parts, Bhool Bhulaiyaa managed to retain its fanbase and even grow it, thanks to its fresh appeal. With Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 scheduled for 2024, just two years after the second film, the franchise seems poised to capitalize on its renewed momentum.
Overseas Box Office Performance
Bhool Bhulaiyaa Franchise
– Ranked 16th with a cumulative collection of 9.51 million USD
– Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) – 3.63 million USD
– Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) – 5.88 million USD
The Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise has performed remarkably well overseas, outpacing Singham in markets like North America and the UK. Horror-comedy as a genre often appeals to a wider, more diverse audience, which could explain the franchise’s stronger international numbers. With Kartik Aaryan’s growing international fanbase, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has the potential to push these numbers even higher.
Singham Franchise
– Ranked 29th with a cumulative collection of 5.26 million USD
– Singham (2011) – 1.25 million USD
– Singham Returns (2014) – 4.01 million USD
While the Singham franchise has a massive following in India, its overseas appeal hasn’t been as strong. Action films traditionally fare well internationally, but the heavy Indian cultural context and themes in Singham may not have resonated as much with international audiences. However, with the expansion of Rohit Shetty’s cop universe and glimpses of Ramayana, there is a chance for Singham Again to make a bigger impact in overseas.
Worldwide Box Office Performance
Singham Franchise
– Ranked 15th worldwide with a cumulative collection of ₹368.39 crores
– Singham (2011) – ₹147.89 crore
– Singham Returns (2014) – ₹220.5 crore
Globally, the Singham franchise holds a slight edge over Bhool Bhulaiyaa, owing primarily to its massive success in India. The anticipation for Singham Again, especially with its long gap, is expected to bring even more viewers both domestically and internationally.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa Franchise
– Ranked 16th worldwide with a total of ₹349.23 crores
– Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) – ₹82.35 crore
– Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) – ₹266.88 crore
The Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise has shown exponential growth, particularly with its second part grossing over ₹266 crore worldwide. The upcoming Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 could further bridge the gap with Singham franchise, especially with the genre’s continued appeal across age groups and demographics.
Expectations from Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
The upcoming releases of Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 are highly anticipated, and both films are expected to perform exceptionally well. Here’s what we can expect.
With Ajay Devgn reprising his iconic role and Rohit Shetty’s cop universe expanding, Singham Again is likely to fare well in the Indian market. The film could also perform better overseas, especially if it leverages the star power of other actors in the cop universe like Ranveer Singh (Simmba) and Akshay Kumar (Sooryavanshi). On the other hand, Kartik Aaryan’s growing stardom and the franchise’s unique blend of horror and comedy make Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 a strong contender. The film is expected to do well both domestically and internationally, continuing the success of its predecessor. As things stand today, both movies are running neck to neck to grab the audience’s wallet share.
While both Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 have the potential to break records, the initial head start will largely depend on their distribution strategies, screen count, and number of shows. Franchise value, as seen from their previous performances, guarantees strong openings, but sustaining box office momentum will boil down to the content and audience reception. With growing box office expectations year on year, it will be fascinating to see which film resonates more deeply with audiences and emerges as the ultimate box office champion. We hope both movies will emerge as blockbuster champions at the box office.
