Aquaman 2: Trouble for Salaar & Dunki?

The upcoming release of ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ – Aquaman 2 on December 21st/22nd globally coincides with the premieres of Indian blockbusters like Prabhas’ ‘Salaar’ and Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Dunki’ in India and worldwide. Trade experts advise caution for these Indian films as the Hollywood heavyweight, Aquaman 2, hits the screens.

Despite the original ‘Aquaman’ earning only ₹55 crores nett in India, analysts anticipate Aquaman 2 to potentially double that, reaching around ₹100 crores. Although this may not significantly impact the expected ₹1000+ crores revenue projections for Salaar or Dunki.

The release of Aquaman 2 in multiple languages and extensive marketing efforts by Hollywood studios could pose a considerable challenge, particularly in prime locations. If Aquaman 2 receives positive word-of-mouth, it could influence the performance of Salaar and Dunki based on audience reception.

In the USA, Aquaman 2 is expected to dominate, but other films like ‘Ferrari’ and ‘Wonka’ are also generating substantial buzz. Salaar seems to be taking the lead with about 800 confirmed locations, whereas Dunki currently has fewer confirmed locations at around 150+, with approximately 350 shows.