Dhurandhar 2 Takes Early Lead Over Toxic in US Pre-Sales Ahead of March 19 Mega Clash
The highly anticipated box office showdown between Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups is still weeks away, but the overseas battle has already commenced with clear early indicators emerging from the United States market. Limited pre-sales that quietly opened in late February reveal a significant advantage for the Ranveer Singh-led spy thriller sequel as of March 1.
Dhurandhar 2's Strong Advance Sales Performance
According to trade data from Sacnilk, Dhurandhar: The Revenge has amassed an impressive $33,723 in advance ticket sales across the United States. The film has successfully sold 1,953 tickets through 209 scheduled shows spanning 151 theaters nationwide. Industry analysts anticipate this show count will expand substantially as the March 19 release date approaches.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the sequel continues the espionage narrative established in the first installment, which emerged as a global box office juggernaut. The original Dhurandhar film grossed over Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, including a remarkable $21 million from the United States and Canada alone. The sequel was strategically shot simultaneously with the first film and carved out as a separate project months before the original's release—a forward-thinking approach that appears to be yielding dividends in audience anticipation.
Toxic's More Modest Overseas Opening
In contrast, Yash's action drama Toxic has begun its overseas campaign on a more limited scale. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film has currently opened 122 shows across 81 US theaters, generating $3,665 from 189 tickets sold for premiere screenings. The film promises a stylized, violent action spectacle with Yash reportedly portraying multiple roles alongside a star-studded cast including Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, and Rukmini Vasanth.
Trade insiders caution that direct comparisons at this stage are premature. Toxic has yet to deploy its complete show slate across North America, with screen counts expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks leading up to the release. Yash's previous blockbuster, KGF: Chapter 2, grossed just under $7 million in North America, and his nationwide appeal has only expanded since that release, adding considerable unpredictability to the impending box office duel.
Two Stars, Two Genres, One High-Stakes Date
The March 19 clash presents a fascinating contrast in cinematic offerings. Dhurandhar 2 continues its espionage narrative with a sprawling ensemble cast that includes Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt, set against the backdrop of Pakistan's Lyari region. Meanwhile, Toxic offers a completely different cinematic experience with its promised violent action spectacle and multiple character portrayals by Yash.
An interesting production note reveals that the sequel's runtime is actually shorter than the first Dhurandhar film, potentially affecting pacing and audience reception. For now, the overseas numbers clearly indicate an early advantage for Ranveer Singh's spy thriller. However, with Indian theater bookings yet to open and show counts for both films still evolving, this represents only the opening chapter in what promises to be a high-stakes box office competition that will unfold throughout March and beyond.
The entertainment industry and audiences worldwide will be watching closely as these two major Indian productions—each representing different genres and star power—collide on the same release date, testing market capacity and audience preferences in both domestic and international territories.
