There is a continuing trend of non-English movies gaining popularity worldwide, which has especially been the case with Indian cinema. Ever since 2019's Parasite set an incredible record as the first non-English-language movie to win the big Best Picture prize at the Academy Awards, moviegoers have broken past the language barrier and widened their interest in seeing international films. This has particularly gained steam with Indian movies, particularly with the rise of the Bollywood and Tollywood industries.
Indian movies have become more popular than ever, especially with the viral sensation of 2022's RRR. With the over-the-top action and catchy tune of "Naatu Naatu," the Telugu-language movie became the first Indian film ever to earn an Oscar award for Best Original Sound. This has since opened the doors for viewers to movie content from India, whether it be the ever-flourishing Bollywood or the growing Tollywood films. This has become evident with Indian films making a strong presence at the box office, especially a recent 2024 film that just surpassed even Joker: Folie à Deux.
Pushpa 2: The Rule is now shattering records at the box office. The Telugu-language action sequel features Allu Arjun as Pushpa Raj, a worker who has already risen to prominence as a smuggler. Since its release, the movie has broken many records, even after a month in theaters. By building on the original and remaining firmly in the action genre, it has already become a breakout hit. It is just another step in the rise of Tollywood movies in recent years.
According to Mythri Movie Makers, who produced the new release, Pushpa 2 is officially the second-highest-grossing Indian movie of all time. Having grossed ₹1,799 crores, which converts to approximately $210 million, the movie has even outgrossed Joker: Folie à Deux, a box-office disappointment that collected $200 million in its final global total. This latest milestone also means that it finally passed Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which previously held second place since 2017. The only Indian movie that it has not outgrossed is Aamir Khan's Bollywood movie Dangal (2016), which grossed $230 million.
While Joker 2 struggled to replicate the original's success, Pushpa 2 has surpassed its predecessor. After all, the first movie earned between ₹360 ($41.9 million) and ₹393.5 crores ($45.8 million), making the $210 million feat an incredible improvement. In fact, the sequel improved by a factor of almost five, which is similar to Joker 2's decline from its original movie. Unlike the Joker sequel's various controversies, the Pushpa franchise thrived.
