Zebra, directed by Eashvar Karthic, entered its 12th day at the box office struggling to find momentum. Released on November 22, 2024, the multilingual film features an ensemble cast led by Satyadev Kancharana and Dhananjaya. Despite being made on a relatively modest budget of ₹20 crores and offering a unique blend of action and financial intrigue, the movie has performed poorly in theaters.
With a worldwide gross of approximately ₹4.2 crores by Day 12, Zebra has failed to attract substantial footfall, raising concerns about its financial viability.
Zebra Box Office Collection Day 12 worldwide
Satyadev’s Zebra opened to a lukewarm response, earning ₹0.40 crores on its first day in India. While the film showed some improvement during the weekend, it failed to sustain its performance during weekdays. Its second weekend saw a further decline in collections, cementing its position as a commercial underperformer.
Day | India Net Collection (₹) | Worldwide Gross (₹) |
---|---|---|
Day 1 (Friday) | 0.40 crores | 0.60 crores |
Day 2 (Saturday) | 0.66 crores | 0.95 crores |
Day 3 (Sunday) | 0.66 crores | 1.00 crores |
Day 4 (Monday) | 0.30 crores | 0.45 crores |
Day 5 (Tuesday) | 0.32 crores | 0.47 crores |
Day 6 (Wednesday) | 0.26 crores | 0.38 crores |
Day 7 (Thursday) | 0.28 crores | 0.40 crores |
Week 2 (Days 8–12) | 0.89 crores (total) | 1.15 crores |
Total | 3.77 crores (net) | 4.20 crores |
Production and Budget Details
The film was made on a production budget of approximately ₹20 crores, which includes costs for production, promotion, and talent. Despite being released across 1,300 screens worldwide, with 1,100 screens in India and 200 overseas, the film’s collections have been far below expectations. To break even, Zebra needed a worldwide gross of at least ₹25 crores, making its current figures a significant shortfall.
Critical Reception
Critics have been divided in their opinion of Zebra. On one hand, the performances by Satyadev and Dhananjaya were praised for their depth and intensity. The climax, with its clever twists and emotional weight, received positive mentions. However, the film was criticized for its uneven pacing and the inclusion of subplots that diluted the impact of its core narrative.
The movie’s unique premise, centered around the financial sector and the misuse of power within it, was appreciated as an innovative attempt in Indian cinema. Yet, its execution left much to be desired, with audiences and critics alike pointing to a lack of coherence in storytelling as a major drawback.
Audience Response
While Zebra found a niche audience appreciative of its unconventional narrative, it failed to resonate with the broader movie-going population. Word-of-mouth was limited, as the film’s slow pacing and complex themes alienated casual viewers.
Despite being released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi, the film saw its best performance in Telugu-speaking regions, particularly Hyderabad and Vijayawada. However, even in its core markets, the occupancy rates were low, rarely exceeding 20% during weekdays.
Challenges Faced by Zebra
Satyadev’s Zebra was released during a competitive window, with several high-profile films already dominating the box office. Titles like Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 and Lucky Baskhar drew away potential viewers, leaving little room for Zebra to carve out its space. Furthermore, the lack of aggressive marketing and promotions meant that the film failed to create a buzz prior to its release.
Its limited overseas reach also hurt its prospects. With only 200 screens in international markets, Zebra failed to capitalize on regions like the Middle East and North America, where Indian films often perform well.
Financial Analysis and Verdict
At a worldwide gross of ₹4.2 crores, Zebra has managed to recover just a fraction of its ₹20-crore budget. The film is unlikely to see any major recovery through its theatrical run and may have to rely on satellite and OTT rights to mitigate losses. Even with potential post-theatrical revenue, breaking even remains a distant possibility.
Based on its box office performance, Zebra can be classified as a flop. Its poor earnings and lack of audience traction highlight the challenges faced by mid-budget films in a competitive market.
Conclusion
Zebra is a film that aspired to offer something fresh, blending financial intrigue with high-stakes action. However, its lack of mass appeal and poor execution have led to disappointing box office results. The movie’s failure underscores the importance of strategic marketing and strong storytelling in ensuring commercial success. While it may find a more appreciative audience in the digital space, Zebra serves as a reminder of the difficulties of balancing creative ambition with market demands.
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