Top 5 Footfalls In Opening Week; Salman Khan and Aamir Khan Grab All The Limelight —
Salman Khan and Aamir Khan dominate the top 5 films with the highest footfalls in the first week. Gone are the days of the Silver Jubilee and Golden Jubilee eras, where movies took time to become hits. Nowadays, films achieve blockbuster status within the opening weekend or week itself. While many films have had record-breaking opening days and weekends, the true measure of popularity lies in the Average Ticket Price (ATP) and the number of tickets sold.
When we analyze the top 5 most-watched films in the first week, it becomes evident that Salman and Aamir reign supreme. Salman’s movies attract larger audiences to single screens due to his heroic mass image, while Aamir dominates multiplexes like no other since 2006. Among them, Salman’s Sultan (2016) stands at the top and remains unbeaten. In today’s Bollywood, it is extremely difficult for a movie to surpass the 2 crore footfall mark in the first week. Sultan performed exceptionally well in single screens during Eid and the 5-day weekend, setting a record of over 30 crores in just 5 days. This record remained unbroken until Pathaan (2023), as the box office expanded and ATP increased by 40-45%. Prior to Sultan, Salman achieved 2 crore footfalls in the first week with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which faced initial challenges on the opening day but gained momentum through exceptional word of mouth. Salman is currently in search of a similar high-impact mass film.
On the other hand, Aamir Khan had a phenomenal streak with Ghajini (2008), 3 Idiots (2009), Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), and Dangal (2016). All five films were released during Christmas (except Dangal, which missed the national holiday), and Aamir shattered numerous box office records. Dhoom 3, being a franchise film, reached unprecedented heights with Aamir Khan’s strong presence in multiplexes. Eventually, Dangal managed to surpass Dhoom 3 by a slight margin.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 Bollywood movies with the highest footfalls in the opening week (Hindi):
Sultan (2016) – 2.19 crore
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) – 2.01 crore
Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) – 1.93 crore
Dangal (2016) – 1.92 crore
Dhoom 3 (2013) – 1.90 crore
Salman Khan – 3 films
Aamir Khan – 2 films
Salman Khan and Aamir Khan top 5 First week footfalls: From the Silver Jubilee and Golden Jubilee eras, we have come to the times when films become hit/superhit in the opening weekend and opening week itself. Most blockbusters, which had record opening days and record opening weekends, have scored record opening weeks as well. But the Average Ticket Price (ATP) decides which film was more popular and had more footfalls (number of tickets sold).
Looking at the top 5 most-watched films in the first week, it is clear that Salman and Aamir are ruling the list. Salman’s movies brought more footfalls to single screens due to his heroic mass image, while Aamir ruled multiplexes like no one since 2006. Salman’s Sultan (2016) is the table topper and hasn’t been crossed yet. Frankly speaking, it’s very very difficult for a Bollywood movie to bring in 2 crore footfalls in the first week these days. Sultan was huge in single screens due to Eid and the 5-day weekend, and that’s why the record of 30 crore+ total for 5 consecutive days wasn’t broken until Pathaan (2023), as the box office expansion and ATP went up by 40–45%. Before that, he achieved 2 crore footfalls in the first week with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which was hurt by pre-eid on opening day but covered the ground with exceptional word of mouth. Salman is currently missing that kind of classy mass film.
On the other hand, Aamir Khan was on a dream run with Ghajini (2008), 3 Idiots (2009), Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), and Dangal (2016). All 5 were Xmas releases (Dangal missed the national holiday), and he broke almost every box office record. Dhoom 3, being a brand, was escalated to a record-smashing level with Aamir Khan’s strong grip plexes. Dangal finally managed to edge past Dhoom 3 by a small margin.
Have a look at the top 5 Bollywood movies footfalls in the opening week (Hindi):
Sultan (2016) – 2.19 crore
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) – 2.01 crore
Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) – 1.93 crore
Dangal (2016) – 1.92 crore
Dhoom 3 (2013) – 1.90 crore
Salman Khan – 3 Films
Aamir Khan – 2 Films
