Despite all the hype and anticipation, Suriya’s Retro, which hit theaters on May 1, 2025, has not lived up to expectations, both at the box office and with critics. The fans of the superstar, who were looking forward to a strong theatrical comeback, have been left disappointed as the movie is now wrapping up its run below the 100 Cr mark, a figure that has become the norm for hit big-budget films in today’s box office environment.
Although one of the most highly anticipated releases of this summer, Retro failed to keep the momentum going beyond the opening weekend. Though expectations were sky-high due to Suriya’s stardom and the combination with top director Karthik Subbaraj, the content of the film did not appeal to the masses.
Retro’s Box Office Performance: A Disappointing Run
The box office collections of the film show the difference between expectation and reality. Up to Monday, 12th May, Retro has earned:
- ₹48.5 Cr gross in Tamil Nadu
- ₹22 Cr gross from the rest of India
- ₹24.5 Cr gross overseas
These figures take the global total to ₹95 Cr gross, which is now being regarded as the almost-final number as the movie completes its theatrical run. Short of the much-desired ₹100 Cr mark by a hair, Retro has obviously fallen short. The disappointing performance has raised eyebrows in the trade circles and among Suriya’s huge fan base.
Compared to this, Suriya’s last outing Kanguva, though critically panned, had gone on to breach the ₹100 Cr barrier globally. Retro, hoping to perform better on both sides, has now found itself lagging behind not only Kanguva but other prominent South Indian outings this year which have entered the ₹200-300 Cr region with ease.
High Hopes, Low Returns
What makes this performance hurt even more is fan emotional investment. For months now, Suriya fans had placed their hopes on Retro being the movie to return their star to the pinnacle of box office success. The early teasers, posters, and marketing had generated tremendous buzz, and the pairing with Karthik Subbaraj had been seen as a shrewd move, guaranteeing an offbeat combination of retro visual style, action, and emotion.
But with the release of the film, word-of-mouth feedback and critic scores proved to be cool. Audiences cited screenplay lack of cohesion, slow-moving second half, and underdeveloped secondary characters as main downers. With all these positives, Retro could not present an interesting movie experience that people could relate to on an emotional level.
The film’s opening two-day business looked encouraging, with robust footfalls in metro cities. But as the news spread, the numbers started declining, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The overseas market gave a gentle cushion, but not strong enough to make a difference.
A Silver Lining: Budget Control and Non-Theatrical Deals
Although the theatrical outing has been disappointing, Retro is not an all-out financial failure. The film was produced on a modest budget, and the producers had already secured viable non-theatrical deals, such as satellite rights and streaming deals. These accounted for a substantial portion of the investment even before the film hit theaters.
Due to these intelligent pre-release transactions, Retro did not become a humongous loss venture like Kanguva, which had been produced on a much larger budget and experienced larger setbacks in retrieval. Yet, this fiscal solvency doesn’t diminish from the fact that the movie flopped at the box office and did not meet the humongous expectations surrounding it.
Suriya’s Market Value at Stake
The industry considers Retro’s box office as a warning signal for Suriya’s position in today’s movie scene. When his contemporaries are coming out with ₹250 Cr to ₹400 Cr grossers, Suriya’s recent outings are finding it hard to cross the ₹100 Cr mark.
This imbalance is fast becoming an area of concern for producers and distributors, who are eyeing star power as one of the top selling points. Suriya, who had been famous for churning out regular hits like Ghajini, Singam, and 24, finds himself at a critical juncture in his career. The industry feels he needs to revive his film selection, perhaps aiming for better scripts, pan-Indian acceptance, and massy elements.
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What’s Next for Suriya?
All eyes are now on Suriya’s next film with RJ Balaji, which is scheduled for a October 2025 release. This movie is expected to be a comedy-drama with social relevance, offering a different flavor from Suriya’s recent intense outings. RJ Balaji’s sharp writing and satirical direction style might provide the freshness Suriya needs to reconnect with audiences.
Then Suriya has also signed a movie with Venky Atluri, who is known for his clean and emotionally charged storytelling. The movie is scheduled to be released in Summer 2026 and is already creating buzz for being a family-oriented romantic drama, a genre where Suriya has consistently excelled.
Both these soon-to-be-released projects are important. They present a chance for Suriya to regain box office status, dabble in different scripts, and come back even stronger. Fans and the industry are eagerly anticipating that these movies will restore the magic that has been lacking in his recent work.
Final Thoughts
Retro’s underperformance is a clear indication that star power alone isn’t enough in today’s content-driven era. While Suriya remains one of the most respected actors in Indian cinema, the box office reality suggests a stronger comeback is urgently needed.
With the right choices ahead, there’s still hope that Suriya can bounce back, not just into the 100 Cr club, but beyond it—where his talent and stature truly belong.
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