The Pakistani film receipts from 2022 signaled a roaring come back. While the receipts didn’t quite measure up to the stellar 2018, but they definitely showed investors and cinema owners that the domestic box office was back.
Local as well as Hollywood releases brought in the big bucks. Here are the top 10 highest grossing films at the Pakistani box office from last year.
10. Dum Mastam (8 Cr)
The musical rom-com gave families something to celebrate on Eid Ul Fitr 2022. It was this film, along with “Ghabrana Nahi” Hai that signaled to cinema owners that the Pakistani film circuit was recovering from the pandemic doldrums.
9. The Batman (12 Cr)
Warner Bros.’ latest incarnation of the dark knight proved fruitful at the international box office, and it pulled in audiences in Pakistan as well. The film grossed around 12 crore in Pakistani market.
8. Jurassic World: Dominion (14.45 Cr)
The finale to the second Jurassic World trilogy brought in familiar faces from the first film including Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and the ever affable Jeff Goldblum for a bombastic farewell. While the film was no critical success, it generated enough excitement to bring in audiences internationally, and in Pakistan. It raked in 14.45 crore.
7. Thor: Love and Thunder (14.7 Cr)
The second marvel feature of the year brought back the blonde god of thunder and Jane Foster to fight Gorr, the god butcher. Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale did their part in the fourth entry for Thor Odinson. While it was deemed as a bad addition to the series by fans, it generated enough excitement to bring in audiences of marvel fans in Pakistan.
6. Ghabrana Nahi Hai (16.54)
Saba Qamar gave the Pakistani box office its first big hit of the year. After films shut down in 2020, there was no bona fide to restore confidence. Despite stiff competition from a certain Marvel film, “Ghabrana Nahi Hai” held its own.
5. Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad (18.2 Cr)
Fizza Ali Meerza, Nabeel Qureshi, and Fahad Mustafa brought their A-game once again on Eid Ul Azha and delivered a dependable hit. QAZ was the third most successful Pakistani film of the year.
4. Top Gun: Maverick (17.7 Cr)
Tom Cruise’s triumphant return as Maverick lit the international box office on fire, as it did in Pakistan. This was not just one of the biggest commercial hits, but one of the best movies of the year, harkening back to classical Hollywood filmmaking.
3. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (24 Cr)
The foreign film that generated the most controversy in Pakistan this year was “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”. Pakistani filmmakers wanted it delayed so that local films could get a chance. They even tried to institute a partially successful stay order on foreign films which would conflict with Pakistani releases. Suffice it to say, Doctor Strange generated a lot of madness at the box office.
2. London Nahi Jaunga (32 Cr)
“London Nahi Jaunga” was Humayun Saeed doing what he does best at the box office. It took a tried and tested formula, and generated massive returns at the Pakistani box office. It became the second highest grossing film from Pakistan internationally, and back home.
1. The Legend of Maula Jatt (100 Cr+)
The Legend of Maula Jatt set records, defied expectations, and shattered through cynicism and doubt alike. It broke through the 100 Cr box office barrier on the last day of 2022, proving Nasir Adib sahab’s prophesy true.
The film has stayed steady at the box office despite Avatar 2 and has drummed up never before seen excitement during Pakistani Cinema’s new wave.
2023 is now upon us and very few films are slated for confirmed release. Here’s hoping that the new year brings greater box office records and even greater success for Pakistani cinema.
