Tag Archives: The Accidental Prime Minister

Bollywood Box Office: February 22-24, 2019

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Total Dhamaal made nearly $1 million in its opening weekend in North America. From February 22-24, 2019, the comedy sequel earned $989,387 from 202 theaters ($4,898 average), according to Box Office Mojo.

That was just enough to steal the crown from Gully Boy, which earned $976,466 from 269 theaters ($3,630 average, and eleven more theaters than last weekend). After eleven days, Gully Boy has earned an impressive $4,216,437.

Uri: The Surgical Strike also crossed the $4 million mark thanks to the $73,360 from 38 theaters ($1,931 average) in nabbed in its seventh weekend. It’s North American total stands at $4,098,102.

Manikarnika closed out its fifth weekend with $9,066 from thirteen theaters ($697 average; $1,382,558 total), while Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga earned $1,557 from three theaters ($519 average; $1,172,088 total) in its fourth weekend, per Bollywood Hungama.

The first two months of 2019 have been terrific for Bollywood movies in North America. All of the titles above have made over $1 million here (assuming that Total Dhamaal made more than $11,000 on Monday), with two having earned more than $4 million. Besides these titles, the two biographical political dramas that released here — The Accidental Prime Minister and Thackeray — both earned over $100,000. (25% of Hindi films released here last year failed to hit that benchmark.) The only flop has been the horror movie Amavas, which only played in seven theaters. This year is off to a heckuva start!

Sources: Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Mojo

Opening January 25: Manikarnika and Thackeray

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Two new Hindi films hit Chicago area theaters on January 26, 2019. The wider release of the two goes to Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, starring Kangana Ranuat. In response to right-wing threats leveled against the period drama, Ranaut said: “If they don’t stop then they should know I am also a Rajput and I will destroy each one of them.” Awesome.

Manikarnika opens Friday at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, MovieMax Cinemas in Niles, AMC Rosemont 18 in Rosemont, AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington, Marcus Addison Cinema in Addison, Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville, and AMC Naperville 16 in Naperville. MovieMax is also showing the film in Telugu and Tamil at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Manikarnika has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 53 min.

The weekend’s other new release is Thackeray, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the far-right political leader Bal Thackeray.

Thackeray also opens Friday at MovieMax, Cantera 17, and the AMC Niles 12 in Niles. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 10 min.

Uri: The Surgical Strike carries over for a third week at the River East 21, MovieMax, Rosemont 18, South Barrington 24, Cantera 17, and the AMC Woodridge 18 in Woodridge.

The South Barrington 24 also holds over The Accidental Prime Minister and Simmba.

Other Indian movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend:

Bollywood Box Office: January 18-20, 2019

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Uri: The Surgical Strike built on a good first weekend in North America and turned out an even better second weekend. After adding 16 theaters for the weekend of January 18-20, 2019, Uri earned $839,991 from 117 theaters ($7,179 average), according to Box Office Mojo. Those earnings are up about 33% from last weekend, bringing its total earnings thus far to $1,797,969. But, as film critic Josh Hurtado tweeted, don’t expect this impressive feat to garner any attention from mainstream publications in North America.

Simmba held on to second place among Hindi releases in North America, earning $140,441 from 70 theaters ($2,006 average) and bringing its total to $4,981,911 by the end of its fourth weekend. Its earnings from Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday surely pushed it past the $5 million mark.

Last weekend’s other new release — The Accidental Prime Minister — earned $122,703 from 38 theaters ($1,629 average), according to Bollywood Hungama, bringing its total to $217,911.

Sources: 143 Cinema, Bollywood Hungama, and Box Office Mojo

In Theaters: January 18, 2019

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Why Cheat India didn’t make the journey overseas, but there are still three Hindi films showing in Chicago area theaters the weekend beginning Friday, January 18, 2019. After a very good opening weekend, Uri carries over at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, MovieMax Cinemas in Niles, AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington, Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville, and AMC Woodridge 18 in Woodridge.

The Accidental Prime Minister gets a second week at MovieMax and the South Barrington 24.

Simmba holds over for a fourth week at MovieMax, South Barrington 24, Cantera 17, and Woodridge 18.

Other Indian movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend:

Bollywood Box Office: January 11-13, 2019

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The first two new Hindi films of 2019 fared really well in their opening weekend in North America. The wider release of the two — Uri — earned $536,179 from 96 theaters ($5,585 average) during the weekend of January 11-13, according to Bollywood Hungama. Released on about a third as many screens, The Accidental Prime Minister earned $122,703 from 38 theaters ($3,229 average). Those average theater earnings are better than the averages of most of the movies currently in the top ten at the overall North American box office, showing again what a good bet Bollywood movies are for exhibitors.

Simmba continued its impressive run for a third weekend, taking in $318,223 from 136 theaters ($2,340 average), according to Box Office Mojo. That brought its total to $4,717,024.

Other Hindi films still in North American theaters:

  • K.G.F — Chapter 1: Week 4; $3,125 from five theaters; $625 average; $773,813 total
  • Zero: Week 4; $1,022 from three theaters; $341 average; $2,300,528 total

Sources: 143 Cinema, Bollywood Hungama, and Box Office Mojo

Opening January 11: Uri and The Accidental Prime Minister

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The first new Hindi films of 2019 hit Chicago area theaters on January 11. The military drama Uri — starring Vicky Kaushal — gets the wider release of the two.

Uri opens Friday at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, MovieMax Cinemas in Niles, AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington, Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville, and AMC Woodridge 18 in Woodridge. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs 7 min.

Also new this weekend is The Accidental Prime Minister, starring Anupam Kher as former Indian PM Manmohan Singh.

The Accidental Prime Minister opens Friday at MovieMax and the South Barrington 24. It has a listed runtime of 1 hr. 50 min.

Simmba carries over for a third week at the River East 21, MovieMax, South Barrington 24, Cantera 17, Woodridge 18, AMC Niles 12 in Niles, AMC Rosemont 18 in Rosemont, Marcus Addison Cinema in Addison, and AMC Naperville 16 in Naperville.

Other Indian movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend: