I’m still reeling from the adrenaline rush of HIT: The Third Case, and it looks like I’m not the only one—the movie is absolutely killing it at the box office! After a massive opening day, the Nani-starrer Telugu action thriller kept the momentum going on its second day, May 2, 2025. According to early estimates from The Times of India, HIT 3 added ₹10 crore net to its tally on Day 2, bringing its two-day India net total to a jaw-dropping ₹31 crore across all languages. This movie is on fire, and I’m so here for it! Let’s dive into the numbers, the buzz, and what this means for Nani’s career.
A Solid Day 2 Performance
After storming the box office with ₹21 crore net on its opening day (May 1, 2025), HIT 3 showed impressive staying power on Day 2. Early reports from Sacnilk pegged the Day 2 India net collection at around ₹10 crore across all languages, which is a solid hold for a Telugu film facing competition. The Telugu version, unsurprisingly, led the charge, with occupancy rates in Telugu-speaking regions hitting an overall 52.27% on Friday. Morning shows started at 34%, but the afternoon shows jumped to 54.87%, evening shows held steady at 54.14%, and night shows peaked at 66.05%. That’s a fantastic turnout, especially for a weekday!
The film’s global performance is even more exciting. Posts on X suggest that HIT 3 grossed around ₹15 crore worldwide on Day 2, bringing its two-day worldwide gross to a staggering ₹62 crore. In North America, the movie is doing particularly well—Friday’s gross was trending toward $350K, with $262,705 reported by 7 PM PST from 403 locations. That’s a huge win for a Telugu film overseas, and it shows how much Nani’s star power is resonating globally.
Breaking Records and Beating the Franchise
What’s really wild is how HIT 3 is stacking up against its predecessors in the franchise. The first film, HIT: The First Case, had a direct-to-OTT release in Telugu and ended its run at ₹6.6 crore net in India. HIT: The Second Case, starring Adivi Sesh, collected ₹25.92 crore net over its lifetime. HIT 3 has already blown past both of those in just two days with its ₹31 crore net India haul! It’s also worth noting that HIT 2 opened at ₹6.4 crore net, while HIT 3’s Day 1 alone was more than triple that. This franchise is growing bigger with every installment, and Nani’s addition as SP Arjun Sarkaar is clearly a game-changer.
Speaking of Nani, this is now his second-biggest opener ever, just behind Dasara (₹23.2 crore net on Day 1). But with ₹31 crore net in two days, HIT 3 is already on track to potentially become one of his biggest hits. Bollymoviereviewz notes that the film needs to hit ₹100 crore gross worldwide and a distributor share of ₹49 crore to be considered a “hit”—and at this rate, it might just get there by the end of the weekend!
Facing the Competition
Day 2 wasn’t without its challenges, though. HIT 3 is up against some big players, like Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 and Suriya’s Retro, both of which released on the same day. On Day 1, Retro edged out HIT 3 with ₹19.25 crore net, while HIT 3 pulled in ₹18 crore net (though some sources like Sacnilk reported ₹21 crore net). Raid 2 wasn’t far behind at ₹18.25 crore net. By Day 2, HIT 3 seems to have found its footing, with stronger occupancy rates than its competitors in Telugu regions. In North America, it’s also outperforming both Retro ($90,859 on Day 2) and Raid 2 ($147,371 on Day 2), according to posts on X.
I think what’s helping HIT 3 stand out is its intense, gritty storyline and Nani’s powerhouse performance as a troubled cop. Directed by Sailesh Kolanu, the movie follows SP Arjun Sarkaar as he investigates a series of brutal murders across India, from Srinagar to Visakhapatnam. The dark tone, paired with a gripping plot and a stellar cast—including Srinidhi Shetty, Surya Sreenivas, Rao Ramesh, and Brahmaji—has fans raving. I’ve seen so many people on social media calling it “Nani’s best role yet,” and I can’t disagree!
What’s Next for HIT 3?
The big question now is whether HIT 3 can keep up this momentum over the weekend. Posts on X are already hinting at a “massive weekend” ahead, with Saturday’s advance bookings looking even stronger than Day 2’s numbers. If the word-of-mouth stays positive—and so far, it’s been overwhelmingly good—this could be a blockbuster for Nani and the HIT franchise.
I’m also curious about how the film will perform in non-Telugu markets. While Telugu regions are dominating (no surprise there), the Tamil version saw a 24.41% occupancy on Day 2, with night shows at 34.14%. That’s not bad, but I think the team might’ve hoped for a bit more traction in other languages, especially after HIT 2 didn’t have a Hindi release, which limited its reach. Still, with ₹62 crore gross worldwide in just two days, I don’t think they’re sweating it too much!
Why I’m Loving This
As a longtime Nani fan, I’m thrilled to see him shine in a role that’s so different from his usual fare. HIT 3 is bloody, intense, and doesn’t pull any punches, and Nani’s delivering a career-defining performance. The box office numbers just prove that audiences are hungry for this kind of action thriller—and for medium-budget films that pack a big punch. With a breakeven target of around ₹80 crore gross, HIT 3 has already recovered more than 75% of that in two days. I wouldn’t be surprised if it hits that mark by Monday!
What do you think of HIT 3’s box office run so far? Have you seen the movie yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts—let’s chat about it!
