At the time of its release in 2016, Kabali was the most hyped Indian film after Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017). The film had massive expectations, and to match the hype, it opened with ₹88 crore worldwide, setting an all-time record in Indian cinema. Until Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) was released, Kabali held the record for the biggest opening day in India.
Even though the movie received disaster talk from the first show, Rajinikanth’s superstar power and the film’s pre-release hype helped it sustain well. Despite the mixed reviews, Kabali managed to gross ₹290 crore worldwide, which was a rare achievement in Indian cinema at that time. The film had strong overseas performance, especially in Malaysia and the USA.
Area-wise breakup of Kabali Day 1 Worldwide Collections:
| Region | Day-1 Gross | Worldwide Closing |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 21.50cr | 75.6cr |
| Andhra/Telangana | 12.5cr | 36cr |
| Karnataka | 7cr | 22cr |
| Kerala | 4cr | 16cr |
| Rest of India | 5cr | 37cr |
| Total India | 50cr | 187.5 |
| USA & Canada | 17.70cr | 30.4cr |
| Rest of World | 21cr | 70cr |
| Total Worldwide | 88.7cr | 288cr |
Kabali’s Box Office Impact
- Kabali created history by recording the biggest Tamil cinema opening ever in 2016.
- The film shattered Baahubali’s Day-1 record and remained an all-time No. 1 opener in Tamil cinema until 2.O (2019).
- It was a massive success in overseas markets, especially in Malaysia, the USA, and the UAE.
- The film closed at ₹288 crore worldwide, making it the 2nd highest-grossing Tamil film of all time.
