\n\tIndia\u2019s local box office closed the first six months of 2026 at INR6,398 crore ($664.7 million), the highest-grossing first half of any year since the pandemic, according to a new report from Ormax Media. <\/p>\n
\n\tThe figure, which does not include global collections, surpasses the same period in 2025 by nearly INR650 crore ($67.5 million).<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cDhurandhar: The Revenge<\/a>\u201d was the standout performer of the period, contributing approximately 20% of the total India box office for the first half of the year \u2013 a concentration that points to a widening gap between tentpole releases and the rest of the market. Six films crossed the INR200 crore ($20.8 million) mark in H1 2026, up from four during the equivalent stretch last year, yet the number of films reaching the INR100 crore ($10.4 million) threshold dropped from 17 to 13. The top 15 films collectively claimed 58% of box office receipts, compared with 49% in H1 2025.<\/p>\n \n\tThe period also reversed a troubling footfall trend. Admissions rose 5% year-on-year, climbing from 362 million in H1 2025 to 378 million in H1 2026 \u2013 ending three consecutive years of decline and stagnation. The report attributes the recovery primarily to the performance of Hindi and Marathi-language releases. Footfalls nonetheless remain below the 400 million mark set in H1 2022, when \u201cK.G.F: Chapter 2\u201d and \u201cRRR\u201d both opened in the first half of that year.<\/p>\n \n\tHindi-language cinema\u2019s share of the overall local gross grew by five percentage points, reaching 44% against 39% in H1 2025. Tamil-language films saw the sharpest slide, with their share falling from 17% to 12% over the same comparison window. Marathi-language cinema posted its highest post-pandemic share at 4%.<\/p>\n \n\tJune 2026 held steady on its own, grossing INR1,038 crore ($107.8 million) including projected future collections from releases still in theaters. Telugu film \u201cPeddi\u201d was the month\u2019s top earner. Four of the year\u2019s six months have now cleared the INR1,000 crore mark, a sign of more consistent output across the calendar than in recent years.<\/p>\n \n\tBased on the historical pattern in which the January\u2013June window has contributed around 42% of India\u2019s annual box office total over the past three years, 2026 is on course to surpass INR15,000 crore ($1.56 billion) for the full year \u2013 which would eclipse the current annual record of INR13,395 crore ($1.39 billion) set in 2025. Films still to release in the second half include \u201cRamayana<\/a>: Part 1,\u201d \u201cKing,\u201d \u201cToxic<\/a>,\u201d \u201cFauzi,\u201d \u201cJailer 2,\u201d \u201cAvengers: Doomsday,\u201d \u201cSpider-Man: Brand New Day,\u201d and \u201cThe Odyssey.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIf the second half delivers on that slate, total 2026 admissions could cross 1 billion \u2013 a threshold not yet cleared since the pandemic.<\/p>\n \n\tTOP 15 FILMS \u2013 JAN-JUN 2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n