YRF Spy Universe Tops Box Office: India's Highest-Grossing Franchise at ₹2900 Crore
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The concept of film franchises and cinematic universes is relatively new to Indian cinema. While sequels became popular in the West as early as the 1930s and 1940s, the trend in India only gained momentum in the 21st century, with few exceptions before that. Over the past two decades, however, franchises have become a dominant force, frequently topping box office charts. Among the many industries embracing this model, one has consistently delivered blockbusters and established itself as a leader in this space.
India's highest-grossing film franchise
The YRF Spy Universe holds the title of the highest-grossing film franchise in India. The five films in the series have collectively earned an impressive ₹2900 crore at the global box office. This includes Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan, which set a then-record with ₹1050 crore, and the three films from the Tiger series starring Salman Khan, which together grossed ₹1366 crore. Hrithik Roshan's War rounds out the collection with a worldwide total of ₹475 crore.
The YRF Spy Universe, envisioned by Yash Raj Films' head Aditya Chopra, revolves around a group of Indian super spies, each introduced through their standalone films. The franchise officially began with Ek Tha Tiger (2012), followed by Tiger Zinda Hai and War. Initially, these films shared thematic similarities but were not interconnected. The universe truly came together during the pandemic, with the release of Pathaan in 2023, featuring crossovers and cameos that linked the stories. Later that year, Tiger 3 continued to expand the interconnected narrative.
How Spy Universe beat other Indian franchises
Before the emergence of the YRF Spy Universe, the Baahubali franchise held the title of highest-grossing Indian film franchise, earning over ₹2300 crore with just two films. The Pushpa series has since joined this elite club, crossing ₹2000 crore with two films. The KGF series (₹1500 crore) and Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe (₹1430 crore) round out the top five. Notably, among these, only the Cop Universe features more than two films. The YRF Spy Universe has benefited from its multi-faceted approach, featuring standalone films tied together within a larger narrative, rather than relying solely on sequels. While the Cop Universe has the potential to challenge its success, the combined superstardom of Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan has given the Spy Universe a significant edge.
The future of YRF Spy Universe
The YRF Spy Universe is poised to surpass the ₹3000-crore and even ₹4000-crore mark this year with two major releases lined up. First is War 2, which sees Hrithik Roshan reprising his role as Kabir, squaring off against Jr NTR. With its pan-India appeal, the film is expected to perform exceptionally well at the box office when it releases in October. Following this, the universe’s first female-led film, Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail, will hit theatres on December 25. The film stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, adding a fresh dynamic to the franchise.
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