In an impressive display of box office success, Vijay's latest movie, "Leo," directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, continues to captivate audiences even after sixteen days in theaters. The film's resilience in drawing viewers has resulted in notable financial gains, making it a significant player in the world of Tamil cinema.
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, "Leo" grossed an impressive Rs 2.2 crore at the domestic box office on its third Friday, bringing its nett domestic collection to an impressive Rs 319.8 crore. The movie stars Vijay alongside prominent actors Trisha Krishnan and Sanjay Dutt, adding to its star-studded appeal.
The film's stronghold is not limited to the domestic market alone. In Chennai, "Leo" continues to command attention with 597 shows and a commendable 20.30% occupancy rate, signifying the movie's enduring popularity. Its global reach is equally striking, with a worldwide gross collection that currently stands at a staggering Rs 557.8 crore.
Leo is not only a milestone for actor Vijay but also for director Lokesh Kanagaraj. It has emerged as the most successful film in Lokesh's career and currently holds the title of the third highest-grossing Tamil film of all time. It follows in the footsteps of Tamil cinematic giants like Rajinikanth's "Jailer" (2023) and "2.0" (2018).
While "Jailer" achieved a remarkable milestone with a worldwide collection of Rs 604 crore upon its August release, "Leo" finds itself within striking distance of this record. To surpass "Jailer's" record, "Leo" needs to amass an additional Rs 46.2 crore, a feat that fans and industry experts eagerly await to witness. The question on everyone's mind is whether "Leo" can secure the second-highest grossing title in Tamil cinema history.
Vijay's film, however, was not without its fair share of controversies, even before its release. Notably, the actor chose not to promote the film following the cancellation of the audio launch event. Nevertheless, Vijay recently conducted a success meet for the film, where he addressed some of these controversies. He urged the audience to view the film objectively, focusing on its cinematic merits rather than personal biases. Vijay's words resonated as he said, "I plead with all of you to look at a film as a film. If you look, all around the world, cinema is seen as something artificial and a form of entertainment. In that cinema, there will be a good guy and a bad guy. To differentiate between these two, there are a few things that are done… see I don’t have to explain this all to you. I know that you all know it already."
"Leo" continues to make waves, both in the world of cinema and amidst the controversies, as it inches closer to an iconic milestone in Tamil film history.