Dragon 1st Day Box Office Collection: Pradeep Ranganathan's Gets Flying Start In Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi

Dragon Box Office Collection: Pradeep Ranganathan's latest film, Dragon, has taken the box office by storm, marking a phenomenal start for the young actor in his second lead role after the blockbuster Love Today. Directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, the film features a stellar cast, including Anupama Parameswaran, Kayadu Lohar, George Maryan, KS Ravikumar, and Mysskin, and has struck a chord with audiences across South India.

The film's gripping narrative, combined with Pradeep's charismatic performance, has translated into impressive box office numbers, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Bengaluru, and other key regions.

Dragon Box Office Collection - Day 1

Dragon opened on Friday, February 21, with an overall Tamil occupancy of 49.31%, as per Sacnilk. The film saw a steady rise in audience turnout throughout the day, peaking during the night shows. Here's a breakdown of the occupancy:

Morning Shows: 31.66%

Afternoon Shows: 45.99%

Evening Shows: 46.41%

Night Shows: 73.18%

The film's performance varied across regions, with Tamil Nadu emerging as the strongest market. Below is a detailed analysis of the film's occupancy in key cities:

Tamil Nadu

Chennai: The capital city led the charge with an impressive 64.25% overall occupancy. The night shows were packed, recording a staggering 86% occupancy. Chennai alone hosted 423 shows, reflecting the high demand for the film.

Coimbatore: The city recorded 57.75% occupancy, with night shows hitting 87%. The film's strong performance in Coimbatore underscores its widespread appeal in urban centers.

Madurai: With 38.50% occupancy, Madurai showed steady interest, particularly during night shows (59%).

Trichy: Trichy emerged as a standout performer, boasting the highest occupancy of 76.50%. The night shows were nearly full, with 98% occupancy, indicating overwhelming audience enthusiasm.

Other Cities: Salem (42.75%), Vellore (43.00%), and Dindigul (42.00%) also contributed significantly to the film's success, with night shows consistently drawing large crowds.

Bengaluru
The film performed moderately in Bengaluru, with an overall occupancy of 29.75%. While morning and afternoon shows saw lower turnout (15% and 22%, respectively), the night shows picked up momentum, reaching 56% occupancy. The city hosted 235 shows, indicating a decent release size.

Kerala
Kochi: The film recorded 39.33% occupancy, with a surprising 64% turnout for morning shows. However, evening shows saw no occupancy, likely due to local preferences or competing releases.

Trivandrum: With only 17.00% occupancy, Trivandrum showed limited interest, though night shows managed to attract 44% of the audience.

Other Regions
Pondicherry: The union territory recorded 48.50% occupancy, with evening shows peaking at 61%.

Mumbai: The film had a modest opening in Mumbai, with 28.50% occupancy. Night shows saw a decent turnout of 47%.

National Capital Region (NCR): NCR recorded the lowest occupancy at 16.75%, with night shows reaching 37%.

While exact figures are yet to be released, early estimates suggest that Dragon has collected approximately ₹6 crore on its opening day.

The Telugu version of the movie has also got a decent start with 24.37% occupancy. Hyderabad and Vizag recorded good occupancy rates.

Positive Reviews

Dragon has received unanimous praise from critics and audiences alike. The film's engaging storyline, Pradeep Ranganathan's compelling performance, and Ashwath Marimuthu's deft direction have been highlighted as major strengths. The positive reviews are expected to drive footfalls over the weekend, potentially leading to a record-breaking first week.

Given the strong opening and the film's appeal across urban and semi-urban centers, Dragon is poised to emerge as one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2025. However, the movie is competing with Dhanush-directed Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam which was also released on Friday.