The box office landscape can be a fickle beast, but for Kunal Khemu’s latest directorial venture, VIBE, the weekend signals a much-needed momentum shift. After a modest opening on Friday, September 19, the action-comedy thriller saw a significant uptick in interest on Saturday, proving that the word-of-mouth engine is slowly beginning to purr. Industry trackers have reported a robust 55.9% growth in revenue, suggesting that audiences are willing to embrace Khemu’s specific brand of high-octane, humorous storytelling.
‘VIBE’ earns Rs 2.65 cr on Day 2
The numbers tell a story of recovery and potential. Following an opening day net collection of Rs 1.70 crore, VIBE surged to bring in Rs 2.65 crore on Saturday. This brings the film’s total India net collection to a respectable Rs 4.35 crore in just 48 hours, with the gross collection sitting at Rs 5.22 crore.
What makes this performance particularly interesting to industry analysts is the efficiency of the screen count. Interestingly, the film saw a slight reduction in screenings—dropping from 3,194 shows on Friday to 2,979 on Saturday. Usually, a reduction in show counts can lead to stagnant earnings, but VIBE bucked the trend. By filling those fewer seats more effectively, the film demonstrated a stronger “per-show” pull, a classic indicator of growing audience curiosity rather than forced marketing.
Saturday occupancy reaches 21.92%
The real pulse of any film can be found in the occupancy data, and Saturday was a day of steady climbing for VIBE. While the morning shows started at a cautious 9.23% occupancy, the trend line moved sharply upward as the day progressed. By the time the afternoon screenings rolled around, occupancy hit 22.15%, and evening shows saw a steady 23.62%.
The true testament to the film’s “fun factor” came in the night slots, where occupancy peaked at a healthy 32.69%. This trajectory—starting slow and ending strong—is the hallmark of a “sleeper hit” in the making. It suggests that the film is being treated as a quintessential Saturday night out: a breezy, popcorn-friendly watch that audiences are choosing to see once they’ve finished their work week and want to blow off steam.
Kunal Khemu returns as writer-director
Kunal Khemu has come a long way from his days as a child actor. With VIBE, he is cementing his reputation as a multi-hyphenate creator who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty behind the camera. Following the critical and commercial success of his 2024 directorial debut, Madgaon Express, Khemu has moved quickly to establish a signature style: fast-paced, dialogue-heavy, and unapologetically chaotic.
Beyond the director’s chair, this project serves as a landmark for Khemu as he officially adds “producer” to his resume. Partnering with a powerhouse like Preity Zinta—who brings a different level of star power to the screen—and introducing fresh faces like Sparsh Shrivastava and debutante Vanshika Dhir, the film feels like a calculated blend of established nostalgia and new-age energy. It is a bold move to helm a project that demands this much physical and creative output simultaneously, but Khemu seems to be betting on his ability to wear many hats successfully.
‘VIBE’ follows two friends
At its core, VIBE is a classic buddy-comedy premise stretched across a thriller landscape. The narrative follows two inseparable friends whose mundane existence is violently interrupted by circumstances far beyond their control. Think of it as an “ordinary joes” scenario where survival instincts are tested in the most absurd ways possible.
The charm, as many critics have noted, isn’t in the gravity of the plot—which often veers into the outlandish—but in the chemistry between the leads. In a market flooded with somber, gritty dramas, a film that dares to pivot from comedy to high-stakes action feels like a palate cleanser. The friendship serves as the anchor, allowing the audience to forgive the occasional narrative loop-the-loop that comes with any good spy-comedy genre piece.
ETimes rates ‘VIBE’ 3.5 stars
The critical reception has been largely favorable, with ETimes awarding the film 3.5 stars. The consensus is that while the screenplay relies on a fairly standard template, the execution elevates it beyond the sum of its parts. The review highlights that the first half is firing on all cylinders, packed with top-notch banter and comedic beats that keep the energy high.
While the second half does get a bit “convoluted,” as the film leans into its spy-thriller elements—complete with secret pills and unexpected plot twists—it retains a sense of fun. It’s a breezy watch, the kind that doesn’t demand too much intellectual heavy lifting but rewards the viewer with enough spectacle to justify the ticket price. The inclusion of the “Sipahi 1” pill and the climax’s surprise cameos are clearly designed for the theater-going experience, turning VIBE into exactly what it promises: a bit of fun, a lot of action, and a very good time at the movies.
As the weekend concludes, all eyes will be on Sunday’s numbers. If the momentum continues to climb, VIBE might just prove that there is plenty of room left in the industry for mid-budget, high-energy entertainment that prioritizes the “vibe” over the grit.
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