Chennai Express: Critics Give a Thumbs Down but Takes Box Office by Storm
Shah Rukh Khan's "Chennai Express" has got a stupendous opening at the Indian Box Office and it is expected to break all previous opening weekend collection records. However, the movie has failed to impress the critics.
Taran Adarsh, trade analyst, tweeted that the movie, which is completely a crowd pleaser, has taken an "unprecedented" start at the Indian box office. Koimoi.com reports that the movie has set its first record at the Indian box office by collecting 6.75 crores from paid previews on Thursday. The site also reports that the move had a great start in most of the Indian circuits. The movie saw opening day occupancy of 85 to 95 per cent in most of the urban centers in India and more in some multiplexes, while single screens had the House-Full boards or near houseful occupancy.
The movie has also taken UAE, UK and Singapore box-offices by storm. Taran Adarsh tweeted that the movie collected unprecedented $ 450,000 on Thursday in UAE and Gulf Circuit and that the movie was estimated to cross $ 550,000, which is the highest ever.
The Thrusday previews in Australia collected A$ 38,315, New Zealand NZ$ 8,058, while UK's Thrusday night previews collected £ 142,220, which according to Taran Adarsh is huge and the biggest ever preview collection for a Bollywood movie in UK. He also tweeted that the movie has collected a whooping $ 95,359 on Thursday in Singapore and two screens are yet to report. It is the highest opening day for a Bollywood movie in Singapore.
Update: Chennai Express has broken Salman Khan's Ek Tha Tiger First Day record, collecting a record-shattering 33.12 crore (INR) at the Indian box office.
Update 2: "Chennai Express is setting new records in UAE-GCC. Fri $ 575,000. Some sites yet to report. Estimated to be above $ 600,000. SUPERB." -- Taran Adarsh Tweet. Koimoi.com predicts that the movie will collect nearly 100 crore (INR) in just three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The movie has already done a business of 13 crore (INR) in the overseas market.
Producer and directed Karan Johar twitted "The word is out that #ChennaiExpress is a huge BLOCKBUSTER!!! Seeing it as I get back!!! This express is going to hit the roof!!!!"
'Chennai Express' has released in a record 3500 theatres in India and 700 theatres across the world, which makes it the widest release for any Bollywood movie in India and overseas. Overseas, it has got a release in U.S., UK, Australia, UAE, Singapore, Germany, Peru, Austria, Morocco, Switzerland, France and Israel.
The movie is expected to collect a record breaking 80 crore (INR) in its opening weekend at the Indian box office.Directed by Rohit Shetty, Chennai Express is all set to give Deepika Padukone her second blockbuster hit of the year.