L2E: Empuraan, the highly anticipated sequel to Lucifer, is already setting new records in the Malayalam film industry. With just nine days left for its grand premiere, the advance ticket sales in North America have reached an impressive milestone, making it the highest-grossing Malayalam premiere ever in the region.
As of now, Empuraan has amassed around US $32,000 from 9 locations across 26 shows, selling nearly 1500 tickets in the USA alone. This strong start is a testament to the massive hype surrounding the film. The total North American premiere advance sales have already hit $125,000, and with over a week left before the premiere, the numbers are expected to surge even higher.
The Empuraan frenzy has taken over social media, with fans eagerly anticipating the return of Mohanlal as Stephen Nedumpally. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film is expected to be a high-octane action thriller with a gripping storyline, picking up from where Lucifer left off. The first installment of the franchise was a box office juggernaut, and Empuraan seems poised to surpass all expectations.
Over the past few years Telugu Cinema and Hindi Cinema have dominated the North American markets. Could L2E be the start of a new chapter in the biggest market for Indian films outside of India, only time will tell. Also Telugu films over the past sometimes haven’t been successful for the distributors in the region because of their high acquisition cost like Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2- The Rule’s break even point was US $ 15 million and the film just managed to cross that number in its final tally. Even Ram Charan’s Game Changer had its breakeven at US $ 5 million and the film faced a loss of almost US $ 2 million. Sankranthiki Vasthunam starring Venkatesh was the only film in recent times which not only broke even but also earned profit in the region for everyone involved.
With record-breaking pre-sales and immense anticipation, Empuraan is undoubtedly one of the biggest Indian films of 2025. As the premiere date nears, all eyes are on how high the numbers will climb and whether the film will rewrite history for Malayalam cinema worldwide!
