I’m Game Day 1 Box Office Collection: Dulquer Salmaan’s Malayalam Comeback Opens With ₹5 Crore

Dulquer Salmaan is back in Malayalam cinema, and his latest release I’m Game has made a decent start at the box office. The action thriller, directed by Nahas Hidhayath, reached theatres on September 3 and recorded a first-day collection of around ₹5.05 crore in India, according to Sacnilk.

While the opening is not the biggest of Dulquer’s career, the film has managed to outperform Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown Ups in terms of a single-day collection.

I’m Game Box Office Collection Day 1

As per Sacnilk figures, I’m Game earned approximately ₹5.05 crore on its opening day across India from 2,714 shows.

The Malayalam version remained the film’s biggest contributor, bringing in around ₹4.30 crore. The Telugu version added approximately ₹65 lakh, while the Hindi version contributed nearly ₹10 lakh.

The movie recorded an overall theatre occupancy of about 44% on Thursday.

Although the numbers give the film a respectable start, expectations around Dulquer Salmaan’s Malayalam comeback were reportedly higher.

How Does I’m Game Compare With Dulquer Salmaan’s Previous Films?

The opening of I’m Game falls short of Dulquer’s previous Malayalam release, King of Kotha.

Released in 2023, King of Kotha reportedly collected ₹6.85 crore on its first day. I’m Game, meanwhile, has opened with ₹5.05 crore.

Despite this, the new action thriller has entered Dulquer Salmaan’s list of top five highest-opening films.

His stronger openings include Lucky Baskhar, which reportedly started with ₹7.35 crore, followed by King of Kotha at ₹6.85 crore and Kurup at ₹5.60 crore.

I’m Game Beats Toxic in Single-Day Collection

Interestingly, Dulquer’s latest film has also managed to register a higher single-day collection than Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown Ups.

According to the reported Sacnilk figures, Toxic earned around ₹4 crore on its ninth day, while I’m Game collected ₹5.05 crore on its opening day.

However, the comparison comes with an important difference: Toxic was already in its second week, while I’m Game was recording its first-day business.

Mixed Reviews Could Affect the Film’s Run

The film’s box-office performance will now depend heavily on audience response over the coming days.

I’m Game has received mixed reactions since its release. Some viewers have praised the first half for its engaging moments, while the second half has faced criticism, particularly regarding the screenplay and execution.

The film’s opening-day occupancy of 44% suggests that there is interest in Dulquer’s return to Malayalam cinema, but strong weekend numbers will be important if the movie is to turn its initial start into a bigger theatrical success.

What Is I’m Game About?

I’m Game revolves around a gambler whose life takes an unexpected turn after a series of events puts him in difficult situations.

Dulquer Salmaan leads the cast, with Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir, Vinay Forrt and Parth Tiwari also appearing in important roles.

Nahas Hidhayath has directed the film and co-written the screenplay with Sajeer Baba, Ismail Aboobacker and Bilal Moidu.

The movie was produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under the Wayfarer Films banner.

Dulquer Salmaan Returns to Malayalam Cinema

I’m Game marks Dulquer Salmaan’s return to Malayalam cinema after King of Kotha. In recent years, the actor has expanded his work across several Indian film industries, appearing in Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi-language projects.

The film was originally planned for an Onam release but was later postponed. It eventually arrived in theatres on September 3.

With the weekend ahead, the key question is whether I’m Game can build momentum through positive word-of-mouth and maintain its box-office run after its ₹5.05 crore opening.