The much-anticipated sequel to the 2018 horror-comedy Stree, Stree 2, has made a spectacular debut at the box office. Directed by Amar Kaushik and released on Independence Day, the film stars Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurana. As the fifth installment in the Maddock Supernatural Universe, the movie had already generated considerable buzz prior to its release, but the actual box office numbers have exceeded all expectations.
Record-Breaking Opening
According to Maddock Films, Stree 2 has set a new benchmark for Bollywood openings. The production house announced that the film grossed an unprecedented ₹76.5 crore in India on its opening day, which includes earnings from paid previews held a day before the official release. Maddock Films celebrated the milestone on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Stree 2 creates HISTORY! India’s highest Day 1 Box office ever! Thank you, audience, for all the love.” They also shared a promotional poster with the film’s cast, proclaiming, “India’s highest day 1 box office ever!”
However, independent box office tracking site Sacnilk.com reported a slightly lower figure. According to their estimates, Stree 2 earned ₹60.3 crore net in India, with ₹8.5 crore coming from the paid previews and ₹51.8 crore from the opening day itself. Despite the discrepancy, both figures confirm Stree 2 as one of the biggest openers in Bollywood history.
The Maddock Supernatural Universe
Stree 2 is part of the expanding Maddock Supernatural Universe, which began with the original Stree in 2018. Directed by Amar Kaushik and written by Raj and DK, the first film was a massive success, blending horror and comedy in a novel way. This universe continued with Roohi in 2021, directed by Hardik Mehta and starring Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao. It was followed by Bhediya in 2022, directed by Amar Kaushik and featuring Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon. The most recent addition before Stree 2 was Munjya, directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and starring Abhay Verma, Sharvari, Mona Singh, and Sathyaraj.
About Stree 2
Stree 2 continues the story of the fictional town of Chanderi, now plagued by a new terror known as Sarkata. The townspeople look to the legendary Stree for protection. The film is packed with surprises, including star-studded cameos kept under wraps by the makers. Varun Dhawan returns as Bhediya, even featuring in a song with Shraddha Kapoor. Additionally, Tamannaah Bhatia makes a special appearance in the song “Aaj Ki Raat.”
With its thrilling storyline, star power, and a successful cinematic universe backing it, Stree 2 has captivated audiences and critics alike. Its record-breaking opening day collections are a testament to its appeal and the strong hold of the Maddock Supernatural Universe on Indian cinema.
As Stree 2 continues to draw audiences to theatres, it will be interesting to see how the film fares in the coming weeks and whether it can sustain its momentum to become one of the highest-grossing films in Bollywood history.