In recent years, sequels have become a dominant trend in Indian cinema, consistently breaking box office records despite receiving mixed reviews. Whether in Bollywood, Tollywood, or Mollywood, audiences continue to flock to theaters for sequels, often valuing nostalgia and familiarity over fresh storytelling.
Over the weekend, two much-awaited sequels—Mohanlal’s Empuraan from Malayalam and MAD Square from Telugu cinema—released. Their performance has again proved that sequels are not a fad but a long-term box office strategy. In spite of mixed word-of-mouth, both films are registering sensational numbers, reaffirming the fact that audiences enjoy watching their favorite characters back on the big screen.
Empuraan and MAD Square: Box Office Hit Despite Mixed Response
Normally, movies with mixed responses fail to reach blockbuster collections. But sequels are different. They have a pre-existing fan base, high expectations, and a nostalgia factor, which ensures good opening figures.
Mohanlal’s Empuraan got mixed critical reactions, yet that could not prevent it from creating new records for Mollywood. The film raked in more than ₹170 crore in four days alone, which ranks as one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films ever.
Likewise, the sequel to the Telugu blockbuster MAD, MAD Square, surprised everyone by raking in more than ₹40 crore in three days. Despite the negative word of mouth for the film, it will break even within a few days and reach blockbuster status.
These figures confirm that sequels are on a big advantage. Viewers will forget the mediocre reviews as they are already emotionally attached to the characters and plot.
The Sequel Craze Power: Why Fans Keep Returning
One of the largest reasons sequels do well at the box office is the built-in hype and anticipation. Unlike original movies, sequels don’t have to introduce new characters or create excitement from the ground up. Fans already know the world of the movie, making it easier to market and guaranteeing a big opening weekend.
Nostalgia and familiarity are key to the success of sequels. People emotionally bond with characters from earlier films. When there is a sequel announced, fans cannot wait to see their favorite stars in familiar roles, even if there is nothing new to the story.
Another major advantage of sequels is their guaranteed box office openings. Many original films struggle to attract audiences on day one, but sequels often start strong even when reviews are not entirely positive. This financial stability encourages production houses to invest in more sequels rather than taking risks on completely new projects.
The sequel trend is not unique to a single industry. Bollywood franchises such as Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Gadar have been a testament that nostalgia works. Tollywood also has Pushpa 2 and Salaar 2 as among the most highly anticipated Indian films ever. Empuraan set the trend of sequels at an industry level in Mollywood, while Kollywood is readying for heavy hitters such as Indian 2 and Vikram 2.
The success of MAD Square and Empuraan further confirms that sequels have become an inherent part of Indian cinema’s future.
Empuraan vs. MAD Square: Who Emerges the Box Office Winner?
Both the films have been doing great, but Empuraan has made a bigger impact on the box office. In a span of only four days, Empuraan has collected more than ₹170 crore, and it is among the top-grossing Malayalam films in history. It stands behind Manjummel Boys in the total collections and is likely to overtake it very soon.
MAD Square, though smaller than Empuraan, has still raked in over ₹40 crore in three days. For a mid-budgeted Telugu movie, this is a great achievement, and it continues to support the trend that sequels will outperform predictions, even when they do not have hot reviews.
What’s Next? More Sequels on the Way
Given the colossal success of Empuraan and MAD Square, movie industries throughout India already have more sequels in works. Some of the most eagerly anticipated upcoming sequels are:
- Pushpa 2 (Telugu) – The sequel of the Allu Arjun hit.
- Salaar 2 (Telugu) – The continuation of Prabhas’ action thriller series.
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Bollywood) – The follow-up of the successful horror-comedy franchise.
- Indian 2 (Tamil) – The highly anticipated sequel of Kamal Haasan.
- Drishyam 3 (Malayalam) – Mohanlal’s sequel thriller in the franchise.
The performance of Empuraan and MAD Square will only reinforce this trend, making sure that sequels rule Indian cinema.
Read Also :- ‘Arya 2’ Re-Release: Allu Arjun’s Cult Classic Poised for Box Office Domination
Final Thoughts: Sequels Are Here to Stay
The verdict is out—sequels are no longer a risk in Indian cinema. They have turned into a sure-shot formula for box office success, breaking records even when the reviews are average.
Empuraan and MAD Square proved that fans are keen to go back to their much-loved characters, and box office figures testify to this fact. Whether one is a blockbuster with a hefty budget or an in-between range film, sequels have become a strong instrument for directors and production houses.
With more sequels scheduled for release, the trend will gain momentum further, and Indian cinema will be headed for an age where sequels will continue to rule the box office for the years to come.
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