Devil Box Office: Darshan's Film Faces Tough Battle After Weekend Recovery

Budget vs. Collection: The "Safe Zone" Challenge

While a total of ₹27.6 crore sounds substantial, trade analysts point out that the film was produced on an estimated budget of ₹20–25 crore. To be declared a "Hit" in the commercial sense, the movie typically needs to earn double its production cost in gross collections to cover distributor shares and promotional expenses.

With the current net sitting at ₹27.6 crore, the producers have likely recovered their initial investment, but the profit margins remain slim as theatre occupancy dipped to nearly 11.5% during the second week.

Upcoming Obstacles: The Clash of Titans

The road ahead for Devil is steep. Starting this week, the film faces a "make or break" three-day window. The major reason for the projected decline is the arrival of two highly anticipated films:

1. Mark: Starring Kichcha Sudeep, releasing December 25.

2. 45: The directorial debut of music maestro Arjun Janya, starring Shiva Rajkumar.

These releases will significantly reduce the screen count for Devil, making it difficult for the film to add substantial numbers to its lifetime total.