‘L2: Empuraan’ Creates New Box Office Collection Records

The much-awaited sequel to the 2019 blockbuster ‘Lucifer,’ ‘L2: Empuraan,’ has stormed the box office, creating new records in Malayalam cinema. The movie, which hit the screens on March 27, 2025, has witnessed unrelenting patronage from the audience, which is translating into record-breaking collections in days of release.

Record-Breaking Opening Day Collections

On the first day, ‘L2: Empuraan’ collected a whopping ₹22 crore nett in India, which is the highest opening for a Malayalam movie. The collections of the film in various language versions are as follows:

• Malayalam Version: ₹19.45 crore
• Telugu Version: ₹1.2 crore
• Tamil Version: ₹80 lakh
• Hindi Version: ₹50 lakh
• Kannada Version: ₹5 lakh

This huge release attests to the pan-Indian reach of the film with the super-attraction of superstar Mohanlal as the central character.

Pre-Release Hype and Business

Before it was released theatrically, ‘L2: Empuraan’ had created a mammoth buzz already. The film earned ₹58 crore through pre-bookings, further boosting expectations of a record opening. Pre-release business for the film stood at ₹100 crore, out of which ₹70 crore was all-India rights and ₹30 crore from abroad. This propelled ‘L2: Empuraan’ as one of the most commercially viable Malayalam movies ever made.

Budget and Revenue Targets

With a production cost reported to be ₹150 crore, ‘L2: Empuraan’ is among the costliest Malayalam films. Experts say that for the film to be a box office hit, it must reach the ₹225 crore level worldwide. With its satisfactory start, industry analysts are confident that it can touch and even exceed the figure.

Critical Reception

The film’s reception has been mixed to positive:

• The Hindu welcomed Mohanlal’s acting and lavish production but talked of some of its narrative flaws.
• Times of India also gave it 3.5/5 and stated that although it cannot override the original ‘Lucifer,’ it is fine.
• Firstpost also gave it 3.5/5, praising its technical know-how and star cast.

Conclusion

‘L2: Empuraan’ has changed Malayalam cinema’s definition of success with its box office history and the large audience response. Though its critical reception is varied, its box office run as a witness to its firm grip cannot be denied. While the film continues to play in theaters, everybody waits to see if it would be able to maintain its current level and see it join the list of the industry’s top-grossing films.