ComScore data shows that Sandeep Vanga Reddy’s blood-soaked Bollywood epic “Animal,” starring Ranbir Kapoor, became the highest grossing movie worldwide with $42.1 million.
“Animal” was released in 38 countries worldwide. The $6.1 million global gross includes $6.1 million from its release in North America, where it debuted at No. 7 across 850 theatres. The movie debuted at number one in India and made $28.8 million in its first weekend there.
Ranbir Kapoor plays the son of the richest man in India in the film “Animal,” which is narrated by Anil Kapoor (who is unrelated to him) and has Bobby Deol as the antagonist (“Ashram”). Rashmika Mandanna (“Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1) is another member of the cast.
“Animal” is a study of toxic masculinity, much like Reddy’s other films, the Telugu-language “Arjun Reddy” (2017) and its Hindi-language remake “Kabir Singh” (2019). “There’s the whole issue of toxic masculinity, which Vanga’s previous efforts were decried for celebrating,” Dennis Harvey noted in his Variety review of the movie. The movie “Animal” offers a caricature of chest-thumping masculinity that is similar to the fantasies of manosphere celebrities like Andrew Tate, but it is too absurd to take seriously. Think of it as equal parts Hercules, Godfather, 007, and Leatherface.
Napoleon, an action epic directed by Ridley Scott and distributed by Sony Pictures, came in second place with $35.7 million in total revenue, $28.6 million of which came from outside the country. It currently has $137 million in total worldwide. In 63 markets, “Napoleon” is available to see on over 21,500 screens. South Korea remains the key market for release, with a December 6 release date.
Third place went to Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” which over the weekend brought in an estimated $29.4 million from 88 territories worldwide, bringing its overall gross to $244 million, including $123 million from abroad.
“Renaissance,” a concert film written, directed, and produced by Beyoncé, debuted at number four with a total earnings of $27.4 million, including $6.4 million abroad and $21 million in North America, where it was the first title to premiere at number one. 88 territories are seeing the movie.
Disney’s “Wish,” which brought in $26.2 million from 34 territories—including $18.8 million abroad and $7.4 million in North America—to round out the top five. The film’s global gross was $81.5 million.
