Mohanlal and Prithviraj’s L2: Empuraan mints a strong $2.2 million opening weekend in North America | Malayalam Movie News

Indian cinema continues to make waves in the North American circuit . as L2: Empuraan, the highly anticipated sequel to Lucifer stamps a solid weekend. Starring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film grossed a solid $2.2 million over its three-day opening weekend, despite a limited release of just 600 screens. North American markets for Indian films are usually dominated by Hindi and Telugu films.

The film’s impressive start included $941,000 from its premiere and day 1 collection , showcasing its strong pre-release anticipation among Indian cinema enthusiasts in North America. With a per-theatre average of $3.7K, L2: Empuraan has outperformed several mainstream Hollywood releases, further proving the growing influence of Indian films in the global market.In India the film has almost crossed Rs 60 crore mark over it’s first weekend.
The film’s strong reception in the U.S. is a testament to Mohanlal’s immense popularity and the anticipation surrounding the Lucifer franchise. The first film, Lucifer (2019), was a massive blockbuster in India and developed a cult following among fans, paving the way for L2: Empuraan to generate immense excitement worldwide.
Despite its limited screen count, L2: Empuraan is already performing on par with some of the biggest Indian releases in North America this year. Its opening weekend numbers reflect the rising demand for South Indian cinema overseas, particularly Malayalam films, which have steadily built a strong fan base in international markets.With positive word-of-mouth and Mohanlal’s powerhouse performance driving audience interest, the film is expected to maintain its momentum in the coming weeks.
In India though the film had got caught in controversy about the film pushing ‘Anti-Hindu Agenda’ as film showcased the Gujarat riots of 2002 which led to the lead actor Mohanlal taking to social media to issue an apology. In the apology he stated, “ I have come to know that some political and social themes that were included in the unveiling of Empuran, the second part of the Lucifer franchise, have caused considerable distress among many of my loved ones.As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films promote hatred towards any political movement, ideology, or religious group. Therefore, both I and the Empuran team express our sincere regret for the distress caused to my dear ones, and we all take responsibility for it, with the realization that such issues must be removed from the film. For the past four decades, it is you, the audience, who have been a part of my cinematic journey. Your love and trust are my strength. I believe there is no Mohanlal beyond that.” Following this actor-director Prithviraj also shared Mohanlal’s post .