From Tiger 3 to Leo and Singham: Desi Cinematic Universes Dominate Box Office, Surpassing MCU As New Money-Spinners

Desi cinematic universes, led by films like Tiger 3 and Cop Universe, overshadow MCU's waning dominance, offering relatable stories to Indian audiences.

Written by: Shivani Kumari

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: November 10, 2023

Summary: The immense triumph of Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan and Vijay's Leo, coupled with the anticipation surrounding Salman Khan's upcoming Tiger 3, is once more highlighting the prominence of indigenous cinematic universes, gradually eclipsing the dominance of the MCU with each film.

Over a decade ago, Marvel's Avengers united global superheroes against alien threats. Indian filmmakers later adopted the concept, crafting indigenous cinematic universes featuring righteous cops, challenging spirits, and patriotic spies in gravity-defying stunts – bringing superhero narratives closer to home.

Marvel's global box office dominance has waned post-pandemic, with releases like Spider-Man: No Way Home falling short of Avengers: Endgame's phenomenon. Factors include a flood of mediocre content, convoluted storylines, and the complexity added by numerous web series like WandaVision and Loki, making it challenging for fans to stay engaged. Understanding newer releases, like Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness, often requires prior viewing of series like WandaVision.

As Marvel's influence fades, Indian filmmakers are thriving with cinematic universes like Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe and Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe. Taran Adarsh notes their success, attributing it to relatable stories and characters. The sustainability of this trend is evident, with films like Tiger 3 generating massive anticipation and box office success, featuring stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Hrithik Roshan.

YRF's Spy Universe began with Ek Tha Tiger (2012), a Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer breaking records. Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and War (2019) continued the success, with the latter earning Rs 471 crore worldwide.

Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan set records, contributing to the post-pandemic revival. Another SRK blockbuster, Jawan, later surpassed Pathaan, reaching Rs 1055 crore worldwide, becoming the biggest Hindi movie in India.

Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe started with Singham (2011) and Singham Returns (2014), both hits. Simmba (2018) and Sooryavanshi (2021) continued the success, with the latter outperforming MCU's Eternals. The upcoming Singham Again will unite Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, and Akshay Kumar.

Indian cinematic universes triumph, challenging Hollywood's dominance and catering to local tastes. Alongside the MCU, they've carved a lasting niche in storytelling.