Bollywood Air Force Epic ‘Fighter’ Tops Global Box Office With $25 Million Weekend Haul

Viacom18 and Marflix’s Bollywood actioner “Fighter” was the highest grossing film of the weekend at the global box office, with box office revenues of $25.1 million, according to data from ComScore.

The film, directed by Siddharth Anand, whose previous film, Shah Rukh Khan starrer “Pathaan,” was one of the biggest Indian hits of 2023, stars Bollywood A-listers Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. “Fighter” revolves around the Indian Air Force and released on Thursday, Jan. 25, ahead of the Jan. 26 Republic Day Indian public holiday. The film depicts Indian conflicts with Pakistan and was banned across the Middle East where there is a large Pakistani migrant worker population.

More from Variety

• 'Mean Girls' Dethrones 'Wonka' at U.K., Ireland Box Office

• 'Wonka' Continues Sway Over U.K., Ireland Box Office

• Box Office: 'Aquaman 2' Laps Up $13.7 Million Opening Day, Leading Holiday Newcomers 'Migration,' 'Iron Claw' and 'Anyone but You'

“Fighter” released across 23 territories and recorded a $24.5 million worldwide weekend, with $20.8 million of that total earned in international territories, i.e. outside North America. Including the Thursday numbers, it had worldwide cumulative collections of $25.1 million.

In North America, “Fighter” collected $3.7 million over the three-day weekend and $4.3 million over four days. In India, it collected $17.7 million over four days.

In second place worldwide was Columbia Pictures’ romantic comedy “Anyone But You,” with $19 million. After its sixth weekend on release the film has $127 million worldwide, with $71.1 million in North America. In third position, Amazon MGM’s Jason Statham action-thriller “The Beekeeper” earned $18.3 million and has a worldwide cumulative box office of $104 million, including $42.2 million from North America after three weekends on release.

(The North American or ‘domestic’ box office chart looked substantially different over the latest weekend. There “The Beekeeper” and “Mean Girls” were effectively tied for first place with estimated Friday to Sunday totals of some $7.4 million).

On the worldwide ranking, Warner Bros.’ chocolatier origin story “Wonka,” starring Timothée Chalamet, placed fourth with $13.7 million. After seven weekends on release, the film has a sweet $552 million worldwide, including $195.1 million in North America.

Rounding off the top five was Searchlight’s double Golden Globe-winning offbeat comedy “Poor Things,” distributed internationally by Disney, with $13.04 million. The film has collected $51 million worldwide, including $24.7 million in North America, after its eighth weekend on release.

Chinese fish out of water comedy film “Jonny Keep Walking,” which remains the box office topper in its home territory, collected $12.4 million in sixth position for a total of $154.5 million. Paramount’s musical remake “Mean Girls,” placed seventh worldwide with $11.6 million, for a planet-wide cumulative of $83.4 million.

Universal’s animation “Migration” took in $10.3 million in eighth place for a worldwide cumulative box office total of $206.1 million. Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” collected $9.8 million in ninth position and now has a global total of $412.7 million. The 10th spot was occupied by Bandai’s anime “Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom,” which debuted with $8.8 million. It has yet to release in North America.

Best of Variety

• What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2024

• New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 

• Oscars: Best Actor - Paul Giamatti Leads the Race, but Keep Close on SAG to Determine Ultimate Victor

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.