The film industry witnessed a seismic shift in August 2024, all thanks to one film: Stree 2. Directed by Amar Kaushik, this horror-comedy sequel redefined the box office landscape for the month and delivered a staggering Rs 680 crore, more than half of the entire month’s collection. Its success propelled August to become the highest-grossing month of the year, with a cumulative Rs 1,291 crore—a significant Rs 40 crore ahead of June.
What makes this feat even more remarkable is that Stree 2 single-handedly lifted August’s box office numbers despite no other film in the lineup crossing the coveted Rs 100 crore mark. According to the India Box Office Report by Ormax Media, Stree 2‘s record-breaking performance catapulted it to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, surpassing Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which had previously held the crown with Rs 673 crore.
The Power of Stree 2
With a cast led by Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, and Pankaj Tripathi, Stree 2 has captured the hearts of audiences across India. The film’s blend of humor, horror, and socially relevant commentary has resonated with fans, turning it into a cultural phenomenon. Its Rs 680 crore haul makes it the second-highest grossing film across all languages this year, behind only Kalki 2898 AD, which has raked in Rs 774 crore.
The film’s triumph wasn’t just a personal milestone for the franchise but for the entire industry. The success of Stree 2 has fueled a surge in Hindi-language films’ market share for 2024, which now stands at 40%, up from earlier in the year. Telugu cinema follows at 19%, with Tamil films coming in third at 13%.
August’s Top Films: A Diverse Lineup
Following Stree 2—but with a massive gap—is Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, a Telugu vigilante action film, which amassed Rs 77 crore. The Telugu film industry continues to perform strongly, but no other title in August came close to Stree 2’s dominance.
In third place for the month was the Tamil action-adventure Thangalaan, earning Rs 59 crore. Akshay Kumar’s ensemble comedy Khel Khel Mein placed fourth, garnering Rs 48 crore. Rounding off the top five was the Tamil supernatural thriller Demonte Colony 2, which pulled in Rs 44 crore.
Though the lineup included varied genres—from supernatural horror to vigilante action—none could match the immense draw of Stree 2, a testament to both its widespread appeal and the current market’s demand for genre-blending blockbusters.
A Mixed Bag for 2024
While Stree 2’s massive success has made August the standout month of 2024, the year as a whole is still lagging behind. Despite a strong performance in August, the cumulative box office for the first eight months of 2024 is 7.5% lower than the same period in 2023, totaling Rs 6,868 crore.
At the current pace, the Indian box office is projected to hit Rs 10,302 crore by the end of the year, falling short of 2023’s record-breaking Rs 12,226 crore. Despite these slightly lower numbers, the industry remains optimistic, especially with upcoming films in the last quarter that could make up the difference.
The Road Ahead
With Stree 2 having already cemented its place in the annals of Indian cinema, all eyes are on the forthcoming releases for the remainder of the year. Films like Tiger 3, Animal, and Pushpa 2 are expected to generate significant box office numbers, and some analysts believe that 2024 could still end on a high note.
For now, though, Stree 2 reigns supreme, both as a standalone blockbuster and as a beacon of hope for Hindi cinema. Its impact is expected to linger for months to come, possibly influencing the content and marketing strategies of future Hindi films. As the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, Stree 2 has truly set a new benchmark for success in Indian cinema.
