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Jason Statham and Jack Quaid go head-to-head in UK and Ireland cinemas this weekend as action titles A Working Man and Novocaine lead the new releases.

Paramount’s Novocaine is in 549 cinemas. Quaid stars as an introverted bank employee who cannot feel physical pain and seeks revenge when his co-worker, and new love interest, is taken hostage.

Quaid also starred in this year’s Companion which opened with £670,512 for Warner Bros and a £1.8m cume. Novocaine has already opened Stateside and has grossed $22m worldwide so far.Dan Berk and Robert Olsen directs the feature from a script by Lars Jacobsen.

Disney’s “Snow White” took the crown at the U.K. and Ireland box office over the weekend, debuting with a strong £3.8 million ($5 million), according to Comscore. The reimagining of the classic fairy tale led a competitive field of new releases and set the tone for the upcoming Easter holiday period.

In second place, Trinity Filmed Entertainment’s animated fantasy sequel “Ne Zha 2” earned $1.6 million. The Chinese blockbuster, which continues the mythological story of its 2019 predecessor, became one of the highest openings for a Chinese film in the territory. It has earned more than $2 billion worldwide and is the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the fifth highest grosser ever.

Universal’s “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy” continued its remarkable run in third place, earning $1 million in its sixth weekend. The romcom sequel has now grossed $57.6 million, solidifying its position as the highest-grossing U.K. release of the year so far.

Pakistan superstar Fawad Khan and Bollywood star Vaani Kapoor have started shooting romantic comedy “Abir Gulaal” at locations in and around London.

The film is directed by Aarti S. Bagdi (“Chalti Rahe Zindagi”) and produced by Indian Stories, A Richer Lens and Aarjay Pictures. Producers include Vivek B. Agrawal, Avantika Hari and Rakesh Sippy. It will be shot in the U.K. over October and November.

Bagdi said: “The film explores the journey of two individuals who unintentionally help each other heal, with love blossoming as an unexpected consequence.”

Since 2016, there has been an unofficial ban on Pakistani artists working in Indian films, following political disputes between the two countries. However, in 2023, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking to officially ban Pakistani artists from working in India. “Arts, music, sports, culture, dance, and so on are the activities which rise above nationalities, cultures, and nations and truly bring about peace,...

The Greatest Of All Time Box Office (Malaysia): Thalapathy Vijay Starrer To Replace Shah Rukh Khan’s Dilwale For The Top Spot(Photo Credit – YouTube)

The dominance of Shah Rukh Khan in the overseas market is unreal, and over the years, he has maintained his stronghold. Surprisingly, his Dilwale, which received mixed reviews, is still at the top in Malaysia to be the highest-grossing Indian film. But it seems that Thalapathy Vijay’s The Greatest Of All Time will knock down the biggie from the No. 1 spot. Keep reading for a detailed box office report!

Released in December 2018, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer Dilwale was a big success in the overseas market, with surprising numbers coming in from Malaysia. Back then, it enjoyed a record-breaking response. After that, a couple of films from Kollywood (Jailer and Leo) had the potential to smash Dilwale’s numbers, but they failed to do so.

Aay At The Worldwide Box Office (Closing Collection)(Photo Credit – YouTube)

Aay, starring Narne Nithin and Nayan Sarika in key roles, has wrapped up its run after spending a month in theatres. It started with a domestic collection of less than a crore, but slowly and steadily, it achieved a successful verdict. As per the latest development, the film missed the mark of 20 crores globally but has made good returns against its domestic run. Keep reading for a detailed closing collection report at the worldwide box office!

Directed by Anji K. Maniputhra, the Telugu romantic comedy was released in theatres on August 16. Upon its release, the film was welcomed with mostly positive reviews, and word-of-mouth among the audience was favorable. With such positivity, it performed well in the long run, and against a modest budget of 8 crores, it enjoyed an Roi (return on investment) of over 70%.

As per the final collection update,...

Suriya’s much-anticipated fantasy-action film Kanguva, directed by Siva and co-starring Bobby Deol and Disha Patani, has a new release date. Initially scheduled for release on October 10, the film will now hit theaters on November 14, 2024, coinciding with Children’s Day. The shift in release date was confirmed by the film’s producers, Studio Green, on X (formerly Twitter).

They wrote, “The Battle of Pride and Glory, for the World to Witness. #Kanguva’s mighty reign storms screens from 14-11-24.” The decision was made to avoid clashing with Vettaiyan, the upcoming Rajinikanth-starrer directed by Tj Gnanavel, which is slated for a Dasara release.

Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan-starrer The Legend of Maula Jatt set to be released in Indian theatres

While fans are excited about the new release date, some expressed disappointment that the film won’t be released during Diwali, a major festival season for Tamil cinema.

The Legend of Maula Jatt, the 2022 Pakistani blockbuster starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, is set to make its long-awaited release in Indian theatres, marking a significant moment for cross-border cinema. Director Bilal Lashari and Mahira Khan announced the news on Instagram, expressing excitement about the film’s release in Punjab, India, on October 2.

Bilal Lashari shared, “Releasing in India, Punjab on Wednesday 2nd Oct! Two years in, and still house full on weekends in Pakistan!” Mahira also shared her enthusiasm via her Instagram Stories, while Fawad Khan simply reshared a post.

This release is noteworthy, as it will be the first Pakistani film in over a decade to be screened in Indian theatres. *The Legend of Maula Jatt* is a remake of the 1979 Pakistani classic *Maula Jatt* and centers around the fierce rivalry between the local hero Maula Jatt, played by Fawad Khan, and the brutal gang leader Noori Natt,...

Fawad Khan is set to make a highly anticipated Bollywood comeback after an 8-year hiatus, starring alongside Vaani Kapoor in a Hindi romantic comedy film directed by Aarti Bagdi. The film, which will be shot entirely in the UK, explores the journey of two broken individuals who find solace and love in each other, aiding each other’s healing process. This project marks a significant return for Khan, who last appeared in the Pakistani blockbuster “The Legend of Maula Jatt” and the international series “Ms. Marvel.”

In addition to this film, Fawad Khan will be seen in the upcoming series “Barzakh,” reuniting with his “Zindagi Gulzar Hai” co-star Sanam Saeed. Khan, along with Pakistani stars Mahira Khan and Sanam Saeed, will also headline Netflix’s first Pakistan-themed original series, “Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo,” an adaptation of Farhat Ishtiaq’s bestselling 2013 Urdu-language novel.

Fawad Khan made his Bollywood debut...

Pakistani star Fawad Khan and Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor are set to star in an untitled rom-com that will shoot entirely in the UK.

The rom-com will tell the story of how two broken people come together by a stroke of luck and end up helping each other and ultimately falling in love. Filming is being lined up for fall. Shooting locations have yet to be revealed but it is expected to lens in London.

The Hindi-language film will be directed by Aarti Bagdi and will mark the first international collaboration for Eastwood Studios, the outfit started by former Reliance and Phantom exec Vivek B Agrawal and Devang Dholakia.

Agrawal previously produced films including Queen, Udta Punjab, Super 30 and Netflix’s first series in India, Sacred Games.

One of the biggest actors to hail from Pakistan, Khan’s 2022 action-adventure The Legend Of Maula Jatt became the country’s highest-grossing film of all time.

Reviving its old policy, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Mns) led by Raj Thackeray has warned Bollywood producers against ‘laying the red carpet’ for Pakistani singer Atif Aslam on his purported “comeback” plans to croon for a Hindi film.

Mns Cinema Wing President Ameya Khopkar said that those who are gearing up to bring Aslam here based on a court verdict “need to be shown their place”.

“Pakistani artistes will not be tolerated here. Never. It is unfortunate that we need to repeat ourselves, yet let me make it clear once again,” Khopkar, who had earlier objected to the release of a Pakistan film titled ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ in December 2022, said here on Monday.

He also targeted popular singer Arijit Singh, who is reportedly standing in support of Aslam.

“This was and will remain the stand of Mns. Not just Bollywood. I challenge the industries of any language in...

Highest Grossing Bollywood Films In Pakistan (Picture Credit: Facebook & IMDb)

It was a series of surprises at the box office when India’s favorite subject, the India Vs Pakistan war, started witnessing a decline. Two superstar releases – Fighter and Tiger 3 were based on the rivalry of the two nations and their armies, and while in a previous decade, this would have been enough to rake moolahs at the box office, both the films seemingly point at the audience’s disinterest in the subject.

However, the topic worked in Gadar 2‘s favor, but it was a common man fighting in Pakistan rather than the armies, and probably that worked. This might be just an observation. However, these films were strongly rejected by not only Pakistan but also many Gulf countries.

As the audiences have rejected the India Vs Pakistan rivalry theme at a go, we decided to have a...

Despite a resurgent 2023 for Bollywood both at home and overseas, the industry’s international box office performance is likely to be weaker in 2024, a leading U.K. distributor has said.

London-based Pranab Kapadia, a seasoned Bollywood media executive with stints at studios Eros and Zee, now runs U.K. distribution company Moviegoers Entertainment, whose distribution roster includes hits “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” (2023) and 2022’s “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2” and “Jugjugg Jeeyo.” Kapadia also serves as a producer with Hope Productions (“Chup”).

Accurate box office numbers for Indian films are notoriously difficult to come by and fragmented. Moviegoers painstakingly compiles box office numbers from a variety of reliable sources.

Bollywood had total box office collections of $1.5 billion in 2023, of which $350 million came from the international market, according to numbers compiled by Moviegoers. This was 30% higher than pandemic-affected 2022, but 20% lower than pre-pandemic 2019. Kapadia attributes the lower...

Location, Location, Location

Entertainment, sports and brand licensing firms WildBrain Cplg and WildBrain Ltd. have brokered location-based entertainment (Lbe) deals on behalf of Peanuts Worldwide for “Peanuts,” “Teletubbies” and “In the Night Garden” with China’s Max-Matching Entertainments. These are expected to lead to the opening of family entertainment centers and IP-themed hotel rooms for each brand in Beijing, in Zhongshan City, Guangdong and a third city yet to be announced. These will roll out over the next five years.

The moves come at a time when WildBrain Cplg is expanding its Asia-focused teams. These include the Los Angeles-based veteran licensing executive, Kevin Suh who is former president of themed entertainment & consumer products at Paramount Pictures. Suh was also a senior executive at the Motion Picture Association of America and a lawyer in California. Shanghai-based Evi Sari joins as VP of Lbe in Apac and the Gcc. She was previously...

Star Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan-starrer ‘Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo’ has become the first Pakistani show to stream on a global platform. The series, which also stars Sanam Saeed and Ahad Riza Mir, shows is an official adaptation of Farhat Ishtiaq’s bestselling 2013 Urdu-language novel of the same name.

It revolves around Sikandar, a Harvard law student who experiences a life-changing incident that makes him keep others at bay, and Liza, a talented artist who is bursting with life but has had a troubled past. They meet in Italy, as reported by Variety.

Fawad is a name that needs little introduction, having made his way into international cinema as he has starred in both Bollywood and Hollywood making a strong mark on audiences with his acting skills.

Currently the actor, who is one of the leads in the series is fresh off his success from the Pakistani-Punjabi...

A galaxy of stars popular across Pakistan, South Asia and beyond headline Netflix’s first Pakistan-themed original “Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo.”

The series is an official adaptation of Farhat Ishtiaq’s bestselling 2013 Urdu-language novel of the same name. It revolves around Sikandar, a Harvard law student who experiences a life-changing incident that makes him keep others at bay, and Liza, a talented artist who is bursting with life but has had a troubled past. They meet in Italy.

The cast includes Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan — who starred together in “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” the highest-grossing Pakistani film of all time — as well as Sanam Saeed, who was one of the leads in Zindagi series “Barzakh” alongside Fawad Khan. Ahad Raza Mir, who featured in Netflix series “Resident Evil” and made a splash in Season 2 of the BBC’s “World on Fire,” is also among the lead cast.

Tokyo Appointment

Noted Japanese director Ando Momoko has been named as the ambassador for this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival.

She also features, alongside her father Okuda Eiji in the festival’s newly-released poster, which recreates a scene from Ozu Yasujiro’s “Tokyo Story” and in which Okuda and Ando represent the classic film’s Ryu Chishu and Hara Setsuko characters. The poster image, shot at the rooftop garden of Kitte Marunouchi Building, with Tokyo Station in the background, was designed by Koshino Junko, who has created the festival’s key visuals for the past three years.

Tokyo Iff 2023 festival poster.

This is the 120th anniversary of Japanese film master Ozu’s birth, and the 60th anniversary of his death.

The festival, which says that its key themes this year will be “diversity” and “the possibilities of cinema,” will run Oct. 23 – Nov. 1 in the Hibiya-Yurakucho-Marunouchi-Ginza area.

The 36thTIFF opening...

XYZ Films has unveiled the first clip from Cannes Directors’ Fortnight selection “In Flames,” a Pakistani-Canadian horror film directed by Zarrar Kahn.

The film, produced by Anam Abbas and executive produced by Shant Joshi, Todd Brown and Maxime Cottray, is part of XYZ’s New Visions slate. As revealed by Variety, XYZ had boarded the title last year.

In the Karachi-set film, after the death of the family patriarch, a mother and daughter’s precarious existence is ripped apart by figures from their past – both real and phantasmal. They must find strength in each other if they are to survive the malevolent forces that threaten to engulf them.

It is the first Pakistan-set film in Directors’ Fortnight since Jamil Dehlavi’s “The Blood of Hussain” was selected in 1980.

Kahn, who is now based in Canada, was born in and grew up in Karachi. “In Flames,” which is Kahn’s feature debut grew out of “Dia,...

Bilal Lashari’s “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” Pakistan’s highest grossing film of all time, is getting an unprecedented theatrical rerelease in key international markets.

South Asian films have almost never had theatrical rereleases due to satellite and streaming rights being assigned post the standard window after their theatrical releases.

Six months after its theatrical debut, “The Legend of Maula Jatt” will rerelease across 15 sites in the U.K., seven sites in the U.S. and two sites in the U.A.E. on April 21, in the Eid holiday frame.

To date, the film has amassed $13.8 million worldwide on 500 screens, making it the highest grossing Pakistan-made and Punjabi-language film to date and the top South Asian film in the U.K. from 2018 to 2022. It grossed more than five times Pakistan’s previous box office champion, “Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2.”

Additionally, producer Brian Adler, also known for visual effects for “Avengers: Endgame,...

Shayan Khan’s upcoming film, Money Back Guarantee, has already generated a lot of excitement amongst film enthusiasts across the world because it will not only bring Fawad Khan back on screen after the phenomenal success of The Legend of Maula Jatt, the highest grossing Pakistani film of all time, but also marks the acting debut of the country’s former cricket captain, Wasim Akram.

Now, a popular cricket commentator and coach, Wasim plays a significant role in the political satire. He plays the President of a prominent bank, a man who appears nonchalant and is something of an intellectual, but is also fiercely competitive and determined to win the upcoming elections by any means and retain his position at the top.

“I’m sure that viewers would like seeing Wasim Akram in action in a different field as he was one of the greatest bowlers of all time and...

“Barzakh,” starring top Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, is the only South Asian selection at Series Mania this year.

The series will debut in the showcase’s International Panorama, a 12-title competitive section where it will be eligible for the best series, director, actress, actor, student jury and audience awards.

“Barzakh” (6 X 58′) is helmed by critically acclaimed director Asim Abbasi who also directed Zindagi’s first Pakistani original “Churails” and the feature film “Cake.” It is produced by Waqas Hassan and Shailja Kejriwal for Zindagi, the Indian subcontinent focused programming block on streamer ZEE5 Global.

The series is a family drama centered around an elderly man’s quest for love. It explores intergenerational trauma between fathers and sons. The narrative is framed within a fantastical world of supernatural beings and otherworldly events that reveal the chasms between life, death and rebirth.

“What does it mean to be human?...

Bilal Lashari’s “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” starring Pakistani superstars Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan (no relation), is now officially the highest grossing Pakistani film of all time.

Produced by Ammara Hikmat’s Encyclomedia and Lashari Films, the film released on Oct. 13, 2022 and has had worldwide collections of 10 million, including 4.2 million in Pakistan. It has far surpassed the 3.2 million grossed globally by previous record holder “Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2” in 2018.

After Pakistan, the most successful territory for the film has been the U.K., where it is distributed by Pranab Kapadia of Moviegoers Entertainment. It has collected £1.43 million (1.7 million) in the territory, going past 2018’s “Sanju” that took 1.6 million, making it the highest grossing South Asian film there since “Padmaavat,” which grossed 2.5 million, also in 2018. The next highest 2022 grosser from South Asia in the U.K. is “Ponniyin Selvan-1” with 1.5 million.

The Punjabi-language “The Legend of Maula Jatt...

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is returning to India with his new film, almost six years after his appearance in Karan Johar’s film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ created a furore and political turmoil. Fawad’s new film is titled, ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’, and also stars ‘Raees’ actress Mahira Khan.

The film, which has become the highest-grossing Pakistani film of all time, is likely to be released on the big screen in India this Friday. The film was released in Pakistan on October 13 this year.

Directed by Bilal Lashari, ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ is an adaptation of the 1979 cult classic Maula Jatt and producers have said it is neither a remake nor a sequel.

Both Fawad and Mahira enjoy a sizeable fan following in India because of their drama ‘Humsafar’.

The last film to get a theatrical release in India was the 2011 film ‘Bol’ starring Mahira.

CinemaPopular Tollywood actors Jr Ntr and Ram Charan have jointly topped an annual list of ‘Top 50 Asian Celebrities in the World’ published by the UK weekly Eastern Eye.PTIScreengrab/ YouTubePopular Indian actors Jr Ntr and Ram Charan who were seen together in the hit period drama Rrr, have jointly topped an annual UK list of the ‘Top 50 Asian Celebrities in the World' published by the UK weekly Eastern Eye. The Telugu film stars have been ranked ahead of other South Asian stars for breaking international records and for securing two Golden Globe nominations for Rrr, directed by SS Rajamouli. The 2022 list, set to be published in the UK weekly Eastern Eye on Friday, December 16, hails the duo for drawing global attention to regional language cinema in India. “Jr Ntr and Ram Charan breathed fire into cinema halls with Rrr and ignited the kind of interest in commercial Indian films from a cross-cultural audience globally,...

Slow weekend for new titles as cinemas await ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’.

RankFilm (distributor)Three-day gross (Dec 9-11)Total gross to date Week 1. Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical (Sony) £2.1m £10.8m 3 2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney) £802,106 £30.8m 5 3. Violent Night (Universal) £567,351 £1.9m 2 4. Strange World (Disney) £305,802 £1.8m 3 5. The Menu (Disney) £192,742 £3m 4

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.23

Sony’s Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical held first place at the UK-Ireland box office for a third consecutive weekend, as cinemas await the arrival of Avatar: The Way Of Water.

On its third weekend in cinemas, Matilda dropped just 16 on its previous session...

Universal’s ‘Violent Night’ is the top performing new release.

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Dec 2-4) Total gross to date Week 1. Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical (Sony) £2.5m £7.8m 2 2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney) £1.5m £29.5 4 3. Violent Night (Universal) £822,352 £822,352 1 4. Strange World (Disney)

£442,409 £1.4m 2 5. The Menu (Disney)

£334,067 £2.6m 3

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.23

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical continues its run of box office joy in the UK and Ireland, topping the chart once again with £2.5m from the weekend.

The Matthew Warchus-directed musical drama, distributed in the territory by Sony, now boasts an overall total of £7.8m, after two weekends out in cinemas.

Many years ago, a prominent daily newspaper carried a column where For and Against views were sought from two sides. The theme was whether India and Pakistan should get into a joint venture to produce films. Not strangely, as things work in our profession, the side I chose was already committed to the Pakistani representative, a lady filmmaker. I was left to debate against her point of view which was that India should enter into joint ventures to produce films with Pakistan.

Why? My stand was that the Indian film industry was thriving and had no need for a Pakistani co-production. Also, it was not our job to promote or prop up the Pakistani film industry with joint productions. For most of its life, the Pakistani cinema chains have survived on Indian films when they are not banned in Pakistan off and on. So, by promoting the Pakistani film industry,...

‘The Menu’ begins below £1m; ‘Drishyam 2’ performs well.

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Nov 18-20) Total gross to date Week 1. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney) £6.2m £22.7m 2 2. The Menu (Disney) £918,761 £931,611 1 3. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Sony) £519,000 £12.2m 6 4. Black Adam (Warner Bros) £496,379 £19.3m 5 5. Living (Lionsgate) £338,287 £2.6m 3

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever topped the charts and passed £20m as Mubi’s awards contender Aftersun scored an excellent per-cinema average on its opening weekend.

Wakanda Forever dropped 50 on its opening weekend, adding £6.2m to reach a strong £22.7m from two sessions.

It is already the 17th -highest-grossing of 29 Marvel Cinematic Universe titles, overtaking 2010’s Iron Man 2...

Sequel starts with an impressive £17,663 per cinema from 700 venues.

RankFilm (distributor) Three-day gross (Nov 11-13)Total gross to date Week 1. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney) £12.4m £12.4m 1 2. Black Adam (Warner Bros) £786,226 £18.5m 4 3. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Sony) £647,000 £11.5m 5 4. The Banshees Of Inisherin (Disney) £560,627 £7.5m 4 5. Living (Lionsgate) £492,047 £1.7m 2

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.18

Disney blockbuster sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has made a storming start at the UK-Ireland box office, with a £12.4m opening.

That tops the £10.5m opening of 2018’s Black Panther. That film ended on a huge £50.8m total; Wakanda Forever will look to maintain similar form across the run-in to Christmas.

‘One Piece Film Red’ makes a strong start; ‘Triangle Of Sadness’ holds well.

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Nov 4-6) Total gross to date Week 1. Black Adam (Warner Bros) £2m £17.1m 3 2. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Sony) £972,000 £10.8m 4 3. The Banshees Of Inisherin (Disney) £971,681 £6.3m 3 4. Living (Lionsgate) £561,513 £665,530 1 5. One Piece Film Red (Anime Ltd) £559,611 £559,611 1

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.14

Warner Bros blockbuster Black Adam topped the UK-Ireland box office for a third consecutive weekend, adding £2m to its total to reach £17.1m; as awards contenders Living, The Banshees Of Inisherin and Triangle Of Sadness all performed well.

Black Adam is now the seventh-highest-grossing of 11 DC Extended Universe films,...

‘Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’, ‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ hold well.

RankFilm (distributor) Three-day gross (Oct 28-30)Total gross to date Week 1. Black Adam (Warner Bros) £3.5m £13.4m 2 2. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Sony) £1.5m £9m 3 3. The Banshees Of Inisherin (Disney) £1.3m £4.2m 2 4. Prey For The Devil (Lionsgate) £768,596 £859,662 1 5. Coldplay Music Of The Spheres (Trafalgar Releasing) £742,584 £742,584 1

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.15

Warner Bros’ blockbuster Black Adam topped the charts for the second successive session as Curzon’s Palme d’Or-winner Triangle Of Sadness made a smart start at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend.

Black Adam comfortably held top spot, adding £3.5m – a 37.6 drop – to reach £13.4m from two weekends.

It isn’t hard to believe that Bilal Lashari’s The Legend of Maula Jatt is, by some multiples, the most expensive film ever to come out of Pakistan. In the works since 2013, held up first by a copyright battle and then by Covid, it was finally released this month, thrilling audiences with its vast sets, elaborately choreographed set pieces and galaxy of stars: it is nothing if not lavish. It is also being vigorously touted as the catalyst that will revive the long-languishing fortunes of Lollywood, the Pakistani popular film industry. Time will tell. Audiences are certainly loving it.

Like Hollywood’s comic-book superheroes, the character Maula Jatt has repeatedly proved to be gilt-edged box office. The Punjabi avenger was immortalized in a 1979 epic, simply titled Maula Jat, that was also the most expensive film of its time and a huge hit; even before that, the character popped up in other films.

Hot fantasy actioner The Legend of Maula Jatt has hit a historic milestone, becoming the highest-grossing Pakistani film ever worldwide in only its second week of release, and the first to cross Pkr 100cr (4.5M) globally.

Through Tuesday, it had taken Pkr 115cr (5.2M). Of that, Pkr 33cr (1.5M) is from the home country and Pkr 82cr (3.7M) is from offshore markets. In the UK, it is the highest-grossing Punjabi movie ever with £866K (1M) through Wednesday.

In the U.S., the epic across two weekends has done 728K, and in Canada 525K through Sunday. Midweek performance has also been strong, notably in the UK, Canada and Australia.  

A reboot of the 1979 cult Punjabi classic, Maula Jat, The Legend of Maula Jatt has been on a tear out of the gate since it released on October 13, and scored a record-breaking global bow for a Pakistani title.

The movie (which has...

‘Decision To Leave’ starts well for Mubi.

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Oct 21-23) Total gross to date Week 1. Black Adam (Warner Bros) £5.6m £5.6m 1 2. The Banshees Of Inisherin (Disney) £1.55m £1.6m 1 3. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Sony) £1.5m £4.9m 2 4. Smile (Paramount) £995,000 £9m 4 5. Halloween Ends (Universal) £703,033 £3.7m 2

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.15

Warner Bros’ Black Adam topped the UK-Ireland box office on its opening weekend with £5.6m, the highest opening for a film in the territory since early July.

Playing in 664 locations, Black Adam also became the first film to take over £1m on each day of a weekend since Disney’s Thor: Love And Thunder,...

Sony’s “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile,” the film adaptation of the children’s books by Bernard Waber, featuring a singing crocodile, bowed at the U.K. and Ireland box office with £2.7 million (3.1 million), according to numbers released by Comscore.

Universal’s “Halloween Ends,” the final instalment in the horror trilogy of sequels to the original 1978 film, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, debuted in second place with £2.1 million. Another horror, Paramount’s “Smile,” collected £1.4 million in third position in its third weekend for a total of £7.2 million.

In fourth place, in its fourth weekend, Universal’s “Ticket to Paradise,” starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney, took £617,041 for a total of £7.7 million.

Rounding off the top five was Warner Bros.’ “Don’t Worry Darling” with £610,841, which now has a total of £9.3 million after four weekends.

There were two more debuts in the top 10. Moviegoers Entertainment’s Pakistani epic “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan,...

A reboot of the 1979 cult Punjabi classic, Maula Jat, Bilal Lashari’s The Legend of Maula Jatt is coming off of a record-breaking weekend for a Pakistan-made or Punjabi-language film. Opening on over 500 screens in 25 markets, the action fantasy grossed Prk 51cr (2.3M) globally, a new benchmark launch for a Pakistani title worldwide. Check out the trailer below.

The movie (which The Guardian called Game of Thrones meets Gladiator) follows the titular Maula Jatt, a fierce prizefighter with a tortured past who seeks vengeance against his arch nemesis Noori Natt, the most feared warrior in the land of Punjab. Loyalties are challenged and families torn apart in an epic tale of truth, honor and justice. Fawad Khan (who appeared in Disney Plus series Ms Marvel), Mahira Khan, Hamza Ali Abassi and Humaima Malik star. Brian Adler served as VFX supervisor.

From Encyclomedia and...

Sony’s ‘Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’ and Warner Bros’ ‘Emily’ also debuted at the box office.

RankFilm (distributor) Three-day gross (Oct 14-16)Total gross to date Week 1. Halloween Ends (Universal) £2.1m £2.1m 1 2. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Sony) £1.7m £2.8m 1 3. Smile (Paramount) £1.4m £7.2m 3 4. Ticket To Paradise (Universal) £617,041 £7.8m 4 5. Don’t Worry Darling (Warner Bros) £610,841 £9.4m 4

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.11

Universal’s horror Halloween Ends scared off the competition at the weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, hitting the top spot with £2.1m in its opening weekend from 576 locations, for a £3,646 average.

The feature is the 12th in the Halloween franchise, and the third...

Warner Bros starting Frances O’Connor’s ‘Emily’.

Sony Pictures Entertainment’s family comedy Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is the widest opener at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, as horror franchise Halloween comes to a close with Universal Pictures’ Halloween Ends.

Released in 656 locations, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is based on Bernard Warner’s 1965 children’s story of the same name, and its prequel The House On East 88th Street, about a crocodile that lives in New York City.

The film is directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck; it combines computer animation – including for the crocodile – with live-action. Canadian pop star...

Pakistani star Fawad Khan, who has worked in Indian films such as ‘Khoobsoorat’, Kapoor & Sons’ and ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, spoke about working in Bollywood, and the long awaited ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ and ‘Ms. Marvel’.

‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ also stars Pakistani actress Mahira Khan and is set to release theatrically worldwide on October 13.

The Punjabi-language film, which is one of the biggest budgeted in the history of Pakistani cinema, is a reboot of Yunus Malik’s 1979 cult classic ‘Maula Jatt’. The film focuses on the legendary rivalry between local hero Maula Jatt and Noori Natt, the leader of a brutal gang. Director Bilal Lashari, whose debut feature “Waar” (2013) broke box office records in Pakistan, has reimagined the story for a global audience, reports Variety.

The original ‘Maula Jatt’ was released before Fawad Khan was born and his exposure to it was limited as his family spent...

The long awaited “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” starring Pakistani superstars Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan (no relation), is set to release theatrically worldwide on Oct. 13.

The Punjabi-language film, which is one of the biggest budgeted in the history of Pakistani cinema, is a reboot of Yunus Malik’s 1979 cult classic “Maula Jatt.” The film focuses on the legendary rivalry between local hero Maula Jatt and Noori Natt, the leader of a brutal gang. Director Bilal Lashari, whose debut feature “Waar” (2013) broke box office records in Pakistan, has reimagined the story for a global audience.

The original “Maula Jatt” was released before Fawad Khan was born and his exposure to it was limited as his family spent several years away from Pakistan at the time it was gaining cult status.

” ‘Maula Jatt’ always had a cult status in Pakistani media, and because of that, we’d obviously heard of it,...

Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan and former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram will be seen sharing screen space in an upcoming film titled ‘Money Back Guarantee – Mbg’. Fawad, who has worked in Indian films such as ‘Kapoor And Sons’ and ‘Khoobsurat’, took to Instagram to make the announcement and also share the poster of the film.

He wrote: “Unveiling the first look of our next movie “Money Back Guarantee – Mbg”. A film by Faisal Qureshi. Teaser coming out Sept 9, 2022, 10:00 am (Pst).”

“In Theaters Worldwide: April 21, 2023. Starring: Fawad Khan, Wasim Akram, Shaniera Akram, Mikaal Zulfigar, Ayesha Omar, Javed Sheikh, Jan Rambo, Gohar Rasheed, Hina Dilpazir, Shayan Khan, Mani, Kiran Malik, Ali Safina, Marhoom, Ahmad Bilal, Adan Jaffer, Shafaat Ali and Adas Waseem.”

The film will hit the screens on April 21, next year.

Fawad will also be seen in ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’, an action drama directed by Bilal Lashari. It is...

Bilal Lashari’s much awaited Pakistani magnum opus “The Legend of Maula Jatt” has set an October release date and unveiled a new poster.

Featuring immensely popular stars Fawad Khan (“Ms. Marvel”) as Maula Jatt and Mahira Khan (“Superstar”) as Mukkho, the Punjabi-language film is a reboot of Yunus Malik’s 1979 cult classic “Maula Jatt.”

The cast for the film, which is one of the biggest budgeted in the history of Pakistani cinema, also includes Hamza Ali Abbasi as Noori Natt, Humaima Malik as Daro, Faris Shafi as Mooda and Gohar Rasheed as Makha.

The film focuses on the legendary rivalry between local hero Maula Jatt and Noori Natt, the leader of a brutal gang. Lashari, whose debut feature “Waar” (2013) broke box office records in Pakistan, has reimagined the story for a global audience.

“The Legend of Maula Jatt” is produced by Ammara Hikmat’s Encyclomedia and Lashari Films. In Pakistan,...