When the North American rights for ‘HIT 3’ were sold for over $2 million, many in the trade felt it was a risky move. The film, not being a big-budget venture, came with limited promotional content and an ‘A’ rating, which traditionally narrows its audience. However, one factor that worked in its favor was Nani’s strong overseas pull — and that alone proved more than enough.
Defying expectations, ‘HIT 3’ stormed into the box office with a massive $850K from premieres alone, surpassing Nani’s previous best ‘Dasara’ by an impressive $200K margin. Even on its first day — a weekday — the film held remarkably well and is projected to bring in over $300K, pushing its total past the $1 million mark.
With this, ‘HIT 3’ becomes the first medium-budget or Tier 2 Telugu film to achieve such an opening day feat in North America. The film’s solid performance and positive word of mouth now point toward a swift breakeven, possibly by the end of its first weekend. Once again, Nani proves his box office strength, particularly in the overseas market, turning a once-questioned deal into a blockbuster success.
