War 2 Box Office Disappointment: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR Starrer Fails to Meet Expectations, Declared a Flop
Mumbai, August 23, 2025 – The much-anticipated action thriller War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji and starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, has officially been labeled a box office flop, failing to live up to the towering expectations set by its predecessor and the YRF Spy Universe legacy. Despite a star-studded cast, a high-octane narrative, and a strategic release ahead of Independence Day, the film’s underwhelming performance during its extended opening weekend and a sharp decline in weekday collections have sealed its fate.
According to official nett box office figures for the Hindi version in India, War 2 collected ₹154.75 crore in its first week. The day-wise breakdown reveals a promising start that quickly fizzled out:
- Thursday (Day 1): ₹29 crore
- Friday (Day 2): ₹46 crore (boosted by Independence Day holiday)
- Saturday (Day 3): ₹27 crore
- Sunday (Day 4): ₹28 crore
- Monday (Day 5): ₹7.50 crore
- Tuesday (Day 6): ₹8.50 crore
- Wednesday (Day 7): ₹4.75 crore
- Thursday (Day 8): ₹4 crore
The film’s extended eight-day weekend, strategically timed to capitalize on the Independence Day holiday, saw a strong opening with ₹46 crore on Friday, largely driven by the holiday and mass audience turnout in certain pockets. However, the collections dropped significantly over the weekend, with Saturday and Sunday failing to sustain the momentum. The real blow came during the weekdays, with a staggering 75% drop on Monday to ₹7.50 crore, followed by further declines, reaching a low of ₹4 crore on the second Thursday.
Industry analysts point to several factors contributing to War 2’s disappointing run. Despite the star power of Hrithik Roshan reprising his role as Kabir and Jr NTR’s appeal boosting the Telugu version, the film received mixed reviews, with audiences divided over the story and visual effects. The high budget of the film, a hallmark of YRF’s ambitious Spy Universe, has also made profitability a challenge. Compared to competitors like Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava, which has outperformed War 2 in terms of return on investment, the film’s financial underperformance is stark.
Social media trends on platforms like X reflected early signs of audience rejection during the opening weekend, with hashtags like #War2 highlighting dissatisfaction. The Telugu version, which started strong with ₹22.75 crore on Day 1, saw a steep decline to ₹6.95 crore by Day 3, while the Tamil version struggled to cross ₹1 crore on any given day. The Hindi version, while contributing the lion’s share, could not maintain double-digit collections post-weekend, with occupancy rates dipping to as low as 9.37% in major metros like Mumbai and NCR on Day 7.
War 2 is part of Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe, which includes hits like Pathaan, Tiger 3, and the original War (2019). However, it has failed to match the box office success of its predecessors, falling short of the lifetime domestic earnings of Ek Tha Tiger (₹198.78 crore) and Ayan Mukerji’s own Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva (₹307.01 crore). The film’s total collection of ₹154.75 crore in its first week places it behind other 2025 releases like Housefull 5 (₹198.41 crore) and Mahavatar Narsimha (₹209.56 crore).
Despite the presence of Kiara Advani and a post-credits scene teasing the next Spy Universe installment, Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, War 2 has struggled to resonate with audiences. The clash with Rajinikanth’s Coolie at the box office further dented its performance, with Coolie outperforming War 2 on opening day (₹65 crore vs. ₹51.5 crore across all languages).
As the film limps through its second week, industry insiders remain skeptical about its ability to recover. With no major competing releases this weekend, there is a slim chance for a minor uptick in collections, but the consensus is clear: War 2 has not delivered the blockbuster punch expected from a YRF Spy Universe film. For now, all eyes are on Alpha, set to release in December 2025, to redeem the franchise’s box office glory.
Source: Box office data compiled from industry reports. Download Approach Bollywood App Now. Approach Bollywood – Apps on Google Play
