Bollywood sequel ‘Raid 2’ storms the box office with a powerful opening weekend, surpassing expectations and outpacing several big titles from Ajay Devgn’s filmography.
‘Raid 2’ Enjoys a Powerful Opening Weekend
Mumbai, India – The Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh starrer Raid 2 is off to a roaring start at the Indian box office, with the film clocking remarkable numbers over its first weekend. The crime thriller, a sequel to the 2018 hit Raid, has lived up to the hype and delivered one of the most impressive opening surges of the year so far. With a strong IMDb rating of 8.1 and positive word-of-mouth from early audiences, Raid 2 has not only pulled in large crowds but also begun breaking box office records set by previous Devgn films.
Made on a moderate budget, the film’s commercial success is an encouraging signal for mid-budget Bollywood productions that rely on storytelling, performances, and regional appeal over VFX-heavy spectacles.
Day-by-Day Box Office Growth Reflects Momentum
The film demonstrated a steep upward trend in earnings over its initial days in theatres:
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Day 2 (Saturday): ₹12 crore – a 37.66% increase from the previous day
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Day 3 (Sunday): ₹18 crore – another jump with 50.00% growth
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Day 4 (Monday): ₹21.50 crore
With a cumulative total of ₹70.75 crore by the end of Day 4, Raid 2 is now on track to enter the coveted ₹100 crore club. This consistent momentum over the weekend reflects a growing audience interest, aided by strategic show timings and increasing footfall during evening screenings.
Trade analysts suggest that while weekday collections may experience a slight dip—as is typical—the solid foundation laid by its weekend performance has significantly boosted the film’s chances of long-term success.
Evening and Regional Footfall Powering Performance
One of the key factors in Raid 2’s robust collection is the high ticket occupancy during evening and night shows. Based on theatre analytics, the breakdown of footfall across different showtimes is as follows:
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Morning shows: 19.38% occupancy
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Afternoon shows: 45.34%
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Evening shows: 55.07%
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Night shows: 39.42%
The data clearly indicates that the film resonates most with post-work and weekend evening audiences. Urban centers such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur have emerged as strongholds, contributing significantly to the film’s nationwide earnings.
These cities are traditionally high-performing markets for content-driven cinema, and Raid 2 has effectively tapped into this demographic by combining mass appeal with a gripping narrative.
Surpassing Previous Ajay Devgn Films
In terms of lifetime box office comparisons, Raid 2 has already overtaken several of Ajay Devgn’s previous titles, including:
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Golmaal Returns
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Maidaan
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Satyagraha
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Drishyam
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Thank God
While it remains to be seen whether Raid 2 can surpass the collections of Drishyam 2 or Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, the film’s current pace suggests it could challenge those benchmarks if weekday retention remains strong and positive audience sentiment continues.
Industry experts also credit the film’s tight screenplay, impactful dialogues, and the chemistry between Devgn and Deshmukh for keeping viewers engaged throughout.
Strategic Release Timing and Positive Reception
The release timing of Raid 2 also played a pivotal role in its box office success. With minimal competition from other major releases during the same weekend, the film enjoyed a relatively free runway. Its genre—a gritty, realistic crime thriller—offered a refreshing contrast to the romantic and fantasy films that have dominated recent months.
Critics have praised the film for its taut narrative and well-executed performances. Devgn’s portrayal of an incorruptible officer once again strikes a chord with fans of the original, while Riteish Deshmukh’s layered performance adds depth to the sequel.
Additionally, the film has received support across social media platforms, with fan accounts and film reviewers amplifying its strong points, further boosting organic buzz.
What’s Next for Raid 2?
As Raid 2 heads into its second week, all eyes are on its weekday performance to gauge its staying power. The film has laid a solid foundation and built considerable goodwill with audiences, increasing its odds of achieving the ₹100 crore milestone by the end of its second weekend.
If it continues on this trajectory, Raid 2 may emerge as one of the top-grossing films of the year in the crime-drama category. Given the relatively moderate promotional budget and lean production costs, the return on investment is expected to be significantly high.
With the Indian box office witnessing a resurgence in 2025, Raid 2 stands as a prime example of how a well-made film with popular stars, supported by tight scripting and audience engagement, can achieve commercial and critical acclaim without relying on extravagance.
Conclusion
Raid 2 has proven that content-backed sequels can perform exceptionally well when executed with precision and backed by strong performances. With ₹70.75 crore already in the bag and an upward trajectory heading into its second week, the film has reaffirmed Ajay Devgn’s box office pull and reinforced Riteish Deshmukh’s versatility in intense roles.
Whether it breaks into the ₹100 crore club in record time or surpasses more benchmarks in Devgn’s filmography, Raid 2 has undoubtedly made its mark on 2025’s cinematic landscape.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
