Ramayana has made a big start overseas, collecting $23.65 million in its opening weekend. That puts it at No.2 on the list of the biggest overseas opening weekends ever for an Indian film. But the list also shows something else: the overseas power of Shah Rukh Khan.
Biggest Indian Opening Weekends Overseas
1. Pathaan: $26.2M (5 days)
2. Ramayana: $23.65M (4 days)
3. Baahubali 2: $22.5M (3 days)
4. Dhurandhar 2: $22M (4 days)
5. Jawan: $21.6M (4 days)
Ramayana: Stronger Abroad Than at Home
Ramayana has performed better overseas than it has in India in its opening weekend. While its India start fell short of expectations, its $23.65 million overseas weekend puts it right near the top of the all-time list.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Overseas Stardom
The standout on this list is Shah Rukh Khan. He has two films in the top five, Pathaan at No.1 and Jawan at No.5.
What makes that special is the kind of films they are. Baahubali 2 and Dhurandhar 2 are sequels, which come with a built-in audience from the first part. Ramayana is a mega-budget epic with a huge global campaign behind it, so a big overseas start was expected.
Pathaan and Jawan were regular films, not sequels or massive epics. For them to be in this list comes down to one thing: Shah Rukh Khan’s stardom abroad.
The King Effect
That overseas pull is also why Shah Rukh Khan’s next film, King, has reportedly been sold for a massive price in overseas markets. Distributors are betting on his proven track record outside India.
Dhurandhar 2’s Missing Market
Dhurandhar 2’s position also comes with a catch. The film didn’t release in the Middle East, one of the biggest overseas markets for Indian films. With a Middle East release, it could easily have been at No.1.
A Note on the Numbers
The opening weekends on this list aren’t all the same length. Pathaan’s was five days, Baahubali 2’s was three days, and the others were four. That’s worth keeping in mind when comparing them.
