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The 10 Highest-Grossing Films Of 2024: 'Pushpa 2,' 'Kalki 2898 AD,' 'Stree 2' And More
Whether these films were your favourite watches or guilty pleasures, they undoubtedly defined the year in Indian cinema
Every year, as the calendar flips, we partake in an oddly reflective ritual—a look back at the year that was.
Film journalists look at the year in cinema and repeatedly come to the same conclusion: the highest-grossing films and the ‘best' films often occupy distinct corners of this retrospective. Yet, it’s tempting to conflate box-office success with cinematic excellence. But here’s the thing: while the two can overlap, they’re different beasts.
Laapataa Ladies, a wonderfully nuanced film that struck a chord with audiences, unfortunately, couldn’t translate its critical acclaim into box-office success, despite an extended theatrical run. On the flip side, a cookie-cutter mass entertainer like Baby John failed to ignite interest—even with their heavy marketing blitzes.
The audiences’ growing discernment seemed to reject formulaic offerings, proving that spectacle alone is no longer enough to guarantee success. But on the other hand, wafer-thin plots and predictable storytelling also managed to make a dent with films like Singham Again and Fighter.
Popularity often mirrors the pulse of a society at a given moment—its collective mood, aspirations, and even its flaws. It reflects how a nation chooses to see its heroes and what it’s celebrating, whether it’s the grandeur of resilience or the pitfalls of jingoism and aggressive archetypes. Quality, on the other hand, takes a slower, more enduring path that is also deeply subjective.
Whether these films were your favourites or guilty pleasures, they undoubtedly defined the year in Indian cinema. With that in mind, here are 2024’s highest-grossing pan-Indian films that drew us to theatres, with (expensive) popcorn in hand.
1. Pushpa 2: The Rule (Telugu) — ₹1405 Crore
The juggernaut that is Pushpa returned with a bang. This sequel saw Allu Arjun reprising his role as the unstoppable Pushpa Raj, red sanders smuggler by day and ‘saami’ by night. Dubbed the most-awaited film of the year, it’s no wonder it continues to smash records every passing day.
*Pushpa 2's lifetime collections have been estimated based on the collections of the film till 29th December 2024.
2. Kalki 2898 AD (Telugu) — ₹776 Crore
Nag Ashwin’s futuristic epic blended cutting-edge VFX and a star-studded cast. Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone led this dystopian saga, that pushed broke new ground for the Indian sci-fi landscape.
Despite lukewarm reviews, Kalki 2898 AD was a massive commercial success.
3. Stree 2 (Hindi) — ₹698 Crore
The horror-comedy genre struck gold again with this sequel. Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor reprised their roles in a laugh-out-loud yet spine-chilling adventure. Audiences were drawn in by its quirky humour, feminist charm and eerie thrills.
4. Devara: Part 1 (Telugu) — ₹347 Crore
NTR Jr delivered yet another powerhouse performance in this high-octane action drama. Devara Part 1 mixed intense drama with fascinating visuals. While a few great white sharks might have been done dirty along the way, the film itself became a fierce predator at the 2024 box-office, devouring the competition with ease.
5. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Hindi) — ₹313 Crore
Kartik Aaryan’s return as the quirky ghostbuster set cash registers ringing. Despite clashing with Singham Again at the Diwali box office, this film proved to be a crowd-puller, solidifying its place in the franchise’s legacy.
Read More | The 10 Best Hindi Performances of 2024, Ranked
6. The Greatest of All Time (Tamil) — ₹305 Crore
Tamil cinema delivered a larger-than-life spectacle with The Greatest of All Time. Vijay’s penultimate on-screen outing leaned heavily into fan service, becoming a nostalgic treat for his loyal audience. The action-thriller struck a chord with movie-goers, proving that sometimes, even a means to an end can win hearts and box office glory.
7. Singham Again (Hindi) — ₹298 Crore
Ajay Devgn returned as the fearless cop Bajirao Singham, with a star-studded ensemble including Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Jackie Shroff, and Arjun Kapoor.
8. Amaran (Tamil) — ₹260 Crore
With stellar performances from lead stars Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi — and the sincere storytelling— Amaran drew in audiences across industries and broke barriers. The film’s combination of intense drama and beautifully-choreographed action sequences earned it a solid spot among the year’s top earners.
9. Fighter (Hindi) — ₹243 Crore
Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s much-anticipated collaboration, Fighter blended thrilling aerial stunts with ringing nationalism, managing to rake in the money early in the year.
10. Hanu-Man (Telugu) — ₹240 Crore
Prasanth Varma’s Hanu-Man brought a unique superhero story to the big screen. With inventive storytelling and self-aware humour, this Telugu film became a standout entry in India’s growing superhero genre.
All figures are estimated gross box office collections in India, accounting for all language versions of films that are released in multiple languages from Ormax Media.