Merry Christmas Box Office Day 1 Prediction: Katrina To See Lowest Opener In 10Yrs? Here’s What Film Will Earn

After quite a happening 2023, the Indian box office has its eyes on 2024 and is looking forward to the first release of the year as Merry Christmas. Helmed by Sriram Raghavan, Merry Christmas features Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead. The thriller drama will be released in Hindi and Tamil and mark the filmmaker's in Tamil cinema. Interestingly, Merry Christmas is also bringing together Katrina and Vijay together for the first time on the big screen.

From teaser to trailer, everything about Merry Christmas has managed to create a substantial buzz among the fans. And while Merry Christmas is set to hit the theatres on January 12, there have been speculations about how the movie will fare at the box office especially given the jinx on the first release of January. To note, January has been jinxed for the opening releases of the year as several first releases of the year in 15 years have tanked at the box office except Vicky Kaushal's Uri: The Surgical Strike and Ajay Devgn's Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.

And now Merry Christmas is set to be the opening release of 2024, there have been speculations about its box office performance. In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat, Film producer and film trade expert Girish Johar stated, "The buzz of the film is very unique and it is a very urban, top end multiplex kind of a film and the curiosity amongst is that particular audience is quite high. So i am expecting the film to have a good start. Good part is it is kind of a solo release in the market and it can build upon the word of mouth and have a good weekend and a long run ahead. I am expecting the film to start anywhere around Rs 1.5 crores to 2 crores. I think that will be a comfortable start and that based on the word of mouth, it can build upon and have a good weekend".

Well, if the reports turned out to be true, this might turn out to be Katrina's lowest opener in a decade. So far, her 2022 release Phone Bhoot as been the lowest opener in 10 years with an opening day collection of Rs 2.05 crores. It will be interesting to see if Merry Christmas will be able break the January jinx at the box office.

Meanwhile, talking about working with Katrina Kaif, Vijay Sethupathi told Indian Express, "I never expected I'll work with Katrina Kaif. I'm a very big fan of Katrina. I was very happy when I saw her on the first day and I couldn't express (my happiness). She is a very thoughtful actor. She has so many questions. She thinks a lot. She is very dedicated. She comes up with an idea and she is ready to adapt. Even if she can't accept your thoughts, she will listen to you. She will put in a lot of effort to make a scene better. That's why she is in the industry not only because she is beautiful but also because she is sensible. Just on the basis of beauty you can't survive for so long. There should be sense and understanding. I felt it when I was working with her".