Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, has completed its first weekend at the box office with mixed results. The film, which opened to a strong ₹15.5 crore on Thursday, saw a steady decline over the next few days. On Sunday (Day 4), the film collected ₹6.50 crore, bringing its total domestic earnings to ₹36.90 crore. While the film continues to perform well in Tamil Nadu, its Hindi and Telugu versions have struggled to gain traction.
Despite the weekend buzz, Thug Life witnessed a drop in occupancy rates on Sunday compared to Saturday. The film had 22.17% occupancy in morning shows, lower than Saturday’s 26.64%. Evening shows saw 39% occupancy, slightly below Saturday’s 40%. The decline suggests that word-of-mouth reviews may be affecting audience turnout, with some viewers finding the film’s narrative pacing uneven.
The film’s budget is estimated between ₹180-300 crore, making its box office performance crucial for profitability. While Thug Life has generated significant curiosity due to the Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam reunion, the critical reception has been mixed. Some audiences appreciate its multi-layered gangster drama, while others feel it lacks the gripping intensity expected from the duo.
With weekdays ahead, Thug Life will need strong audience retention to maintain momentum. If the film stabilizes, it could cross the ₹50 crore mark soon. However, if the downward trend continues, it may struggle to recover its production costs. Fans and industry analysts are now watching closely to see if the film can turn things around in the coming days.