Hit 3 advance bookings: Nani starrer action-thriller roars at the US Box Office

Sailesh Kolanu helms Hit 3 which also features Srinidhi Shetty, and the sequel maintains the thrilling story-telling that made the first two stand out.

Natural Star Nani is demonstrating his prowess at the overseas box office once more as his next thriller Hit 3 is gearing up for a big debut in the United States. The third instalment in the blockbuster Hit series is finding an exceptional response in the pre-sales, especially in the Telugu diaspora living in North America.

Sailesh Kolanu helms Hit 3 which also features Srinidhi Shetty, and the sequel maintains the thrilling story-telling that made the first two stand out. A day back the film had earned $268,489 from 360 locations and 929 shows with an impressive number of 13,925 tickets sold. But in a stunning 24-hour surge, those numbers have exploded.

As of today, it has taken in 415,976 dollars from 435 locations and 1,178 shows, with 21,538 tickets already sold -- for total advance sales on North American premieres of a mind-blowing 450,000 dollars. With a day to go for release, the trade estimates have now gone up to an opening in the range of $ 650K-$700K or higher, especially with good hold expected on walk-ins.”

Trade analysts have called the unusually early booking for the film “monstrous”, and said it was a combination of a very popular Nani, a successful franchise, and the slick, suspense-filled marketing that did the trick.

But it's not as if Hit 3 doesn't have rivals. Howdy is pitted against Suriya and Pooja Hegde’s much-hyped film Retro, helmed by Karthik Subbaraj, which is also releasing this week in the same territory. Even with the collision, it looks as though Hit 3 has been able to establish some fairly substantial lead early on.

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The estimated breakeven number for Hit 3 in the US is $2.4 million so it will certainly have to prove its weekend and post-premiere legs if it’s to break even. But if early patterns and loyalty to this franchise are any indication, it may very well do it.

Nani’s knack for pulling overseas crowds, especially in the US, has been one of the highlights of his career. Now, with Hit 3, he appears on course to enjoy one of his biggest North American openings to date — and it would further bolster his status as one of Telugu cinema’s most bankable stars globally.