L2: Empuraan, starring Malayalam icon Mohanlal, has finally closed its international run—and the numbers are nothing short of monumental. The movie has achieved a new all-time high for Mollywood internationally, grossing an eye-watering $16.9 million (₹144.8 crores) in overseas territories other than India. With this achievement, L2: Empuraan is now the first Malayalam film ever to reach both the $10 million and ₹100 crore mark abroad, something many believed was years from being achieved.
This massive performance consolidates Empuraan not only as a box office hit but also as an industry-marking blockbuster, redefining the perception of Malayalam cinema’s performance on the international level. Overwhelming word-of-mouth in certain segments notwithstanding, the film’s strongbox run once again demonstrates that Mohanlal’s international fan base and mass following are unrivaled.
Empuraan Crushes All Expectations Overseas
While local collections were strong, it is the international box office that best characterized L2: Empuraan’s success. The movie didn’t merely do well—it dominated major markets and created new standards for Malayalam movies. Here’s a breakdown of the final overseas box office:
- UAE – $6,270,000
- GCC (outside UAE) – $2,355,000
- Saudi Arabia – $1,094,000
- North America (USA + Canada) – $2,707,540
- UK and Ireland – $2,143,000
- Germany – $420,000
- Australia – $897,000
- New Zealand – $188,100
- Europe and Rest of the World – $815,000
- Total Gross: $16.9 Million (₹144.8 Crores)
These figures make Empuraan Mollywood’s all-time highest-grossing foreign film, leaving behind all Malayalam releases until now by a considerable margin. It’s also interesting to add that most of these markets, especially North America, UAE, and the UK, have reported record-breaking figures for a Malayalam movie.
A First for Mollywood: The $10 Million Milestone
Crossing $10 million internationally is a regional cinema dream accomplishment for any Indian film, and until recently, it was an award predominantly attributed to Bollywood, Telugu, and Tamil productions. But L2: Empuraan completely flipped that story on its head.
This is the very first time that a Malayalam film has become part of the select $10 million club, and it managed to do so with a sizeable margin to arrive at $16.9 million. The reason this becomes all the more commendable is because the movie had achieved this target despite being a film which didn’t enjoy widespread critical acclaim.
Some panel of reviewers panned the film as a mixed bag, though they were especially critical about its pacing and depth of storyline. Yet moviegoers worldwide flocked to theaters—especially those nations with heavy Indian and Malayali diaspora populations—once again demonstrating that star power, size, and spectacle continue to sell.
Mohanlal: The Undisputed King of Mollywood
There’s no denying that Empuraan was a risk-reward venture. But Mohanlal’s charm and box office value have made the movie not only succeed but create history. At 63, the actor has done it again, making it clear that he’s still the heart and soul of Malayalam cinema, capable of drawing huge attention across continents.
His appearance in Empuraan, the follow-up to the Lucifer franchise, was heavily applauded even by critics who had complaints regarding the script. The grand vision, international locations, political conspiracies, and over-the-top action sequences of the sequel resonated well with audiences, particularly those who watched the first part.
For Mohanlal, L2: Empuraan has not just cemented his star status but has also raised his profile globally, demonstrating his brand alone can generate millions in overseas income.
Will This Record Be Broken Anytime Soon?
With the present context of Mollywood and the extent to which it functions traditionally, shattering L2: Empuraan’s foreign box office record may not be a possibility within years, possibly decades. Empuraan has a massive difference between it and the second highest-grossing foreign Malayalam film. The new milestone will be the reference point for any future major budget Malayalam films, and it sets an example for anything with the temerity to aspire big.
While other directors and actors can attempt to follow in its footsteps, Empuraan had all the right ingredients: a world-class star, solid franchise bed, well-timed international scheduling, and crossover appeal across populations. Unless there’s another comparable scale and reach movie out there, this mark could go unrepeated for many, many years to come.
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Conclusion: A Global Triumph for Malayalam Cinema
L2: Empuraan is not only a movie; it’s a declaration of purpose by the Malayalam cinema industry. It indicates that the industry has now come of age to tackle world markets seriously and is capable of producing content which is not only attractive to niche audiences but to international masses in the millions.
With $16.9 million in foreign collections, Mohanlal has rewritten the rulebook, and Mollywood has taken its first giant leap into the global blockbuster club. Whatever the divergent opinions about its storytelling, Empuraan’s gargantuan success cannot be gainsaid—it’s a commercial as well as a cultural milestone which will be talked about for years to come.
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