New Delhi, July 14, 2026: The Indian film industry has been riding a massive wave of global expansion, but its latest high-profile export has hit a surprising roadblock in East Asia. Ranveer Singh’s action-packed blockbuster, Dhurandhar, which completely reshaped the landscape of Indian commercial cinema, has opened to an unexpectedly quiet and disappointing response at the Japanese box office.
Despite a heavily promoted release and a wide screen-count across the country, the Aditya Dhar directorial struggled to attract audiences during its opening weekend, raising questions about what it takes for Indian mass-media spectacles to translate successfully in international markets.
A Muted Debut: The Numbers Behind the Slump
For a franchise that has grown accustomed to shattering records at home, the performance of Dhurandhar in Japanese theaters has been a sobering reality check. The film made its official debut on Friday, July 10, 2026, across nearly 80 screens—a relatively wide and generous release for a South Asian title in Japan. However, the initial response was sluggish from the very first show.
According to trade reports, the film recorded only 449 ticket sales across 57 locations by 2:00 PM on its first day. Even as theaters expanded the show count to roughly 80 locations by evening, the total opening day admissions crawled to just around 900 viewers.
This slow start meant the action-drama failed to crack the top 25 highest-grossing films in Japan over its crucial first three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). It also fell short of entering the top 10 list of historically successful Indian film openers in the country, a benchmark currently capped by Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, which secured 1,300 opening-day admissions.
To put the numbers in perspective, S.S. Rajamouli’s global sensation RRR continues to hold the gold standard in Japan, debuting to a massive 8,230 admissions on its first day before going on a historic multi-million dollar run.
Top 10 Indian Openers in Japan (by First-Day Footfalls)
While Dhurandhar struggled to make an impact, several other Indian blockbusters have successfully connected with Japanese audiences on day one.
Contrast with a Historic Global Run
The lukewarm reception in Tokyo and other major Japanese cities stands in stark, baffling contrast to the absolute rampage the Dhurandhar franchise has pulled off globally. Comprising two cinematic entries, the franchise has collectively raked in a mind-boggling ₹3,100 crore ($370 million+ USD) worldwide.
- Dhurandhar (Part 1): Released in December 2025, the debut film took the Indian box office by storm, drawing immense crowds despite polarizing reviews, and finishing its global run with an impressive ₹1,307 crore.
- Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Part 2): Arriving in theatres shortly after in March 2026, the sequel amplified the scale, the high-octane action, and the drama. It went on to gross an astronomical ₹1,813 crore globally, cementing itself as the second-highest-grossing Indian film of all time, sitting only behind Aamir Khan’s sports-drama masterpiece Dangal.
Why Did the Film Fail to Connect in Japan?
Film trade analysts suggest that the Japanese market operates under unique dynamics that don’t always align with domestic Indian blockbusters.
First, while the high-voltage action and loud mass-hero moments of Dhurandhar resonated instantly with domestic audiences, the Japanese market heavily values deep, organic emotional beats, structural novelty, or pre-existing character familiarity. Films like RRR succeeded in Japan because of their over-the-top, almost anime-like choreography, combined with a core theme of friendship that struck a chord with the local culture. Dhurandhar, with its gritty, military-espionage undertones, may have felt too formulaic or westernized for local viewers looking for distinct Indian cinematic flavor.
Furthermore, competition and local tastes play a major part. Japanese theatergoers are historically loyal to domestic anime releases and well-established Hollywood franchises. For an Indian film to disrupt this ecosystem, it requires either a prolonged, grassroots viral campaign—much like what Baahubali enjoyed—or an irresistible hook. For now, the star power of Ranveer Singh, alongside a stellar supporting cast including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, and R. Madhavan, was not enough to trigger immediate curiosity in the region.
What’s Next for the Franchise?
Though the Japan box office has yielded disappointing results, the makers of Dhurandhar—Jio Studios and B62 Studios—have plenty of reasons to remain optimistic. The franchise has already secured its status as an undeniable financial juggernaut. Both films have transitioned successfully to digital streaming, performing exceptionally well on major OTT platforms in India.
For Ranveer Singh, the focus now shifts to his upcoming high-octane projects. The actor is scheduled to begin shooting for his next highly anticipated film, Pralay, in August 2026, before taking a brief paternity break to welcome his first child around Diwali.
Ultimately, while Dhurandhar’s quiet Japanese outing proves that there is no universal formula for global cinematic translation, the franchise’s monumental legacy at home remains entirely untouched.