The fantasy thriller wrapped after three weeks, earning just 25.48 crore net in India and falling far short of its estimated 80 crore budget.
Dulquer Salmaan’s fantasy thriller I’m Game closed its theatrical window on Monday with a 68 percent shortfall against the money it cost to make.
The movie managed just 25.48 crore net in the Indian market, translating to roughly 30.07 crore gross. Overseas earnings added another 18.2 crore, pushing the worldwide total to about 48.27 crore.
With production costs pegged at around 80 crore, the film recovered barely 60 crore, leaving a gap of 54.5 crore – the kind of loss that classifies it as a flop by industry standards.
Opening day figures looked decent, crossing the five‑crore mark, but negative reviews quickly stalled momentum. By the second day collections slipped, and the third week saw daily takings dip to a paltry one to two lakh.
Despite the poor haul, I’m Game still landed as the seventh‑highest‑grossing Malayalam release of 2026 on a global scale, a modest consolation in an otherwise bleak ledger.
The picture was helmed by Nahas Hidhayath, who previously earned plaudits for the gritty RDX. It also marked Dulquer’s 40th screen appearance and introduced him alongside newcomer Kayadu Lohar, their first on‑screen pairing.
The project was billed as a comeback after the underwhelming response to King Of Kotha earlier this year. Instead of reigniting his box‑office clout, the numbers suggest the star still faces an uphill battle.
Trade analysts note that a solo release without a strong festival run or star‑studded ensemble can be risky in today’s crowded slate. The modest overseas take hints that the film’s fantasy premise didn’t click with diaspora audiences either.
Dulquer is slated to appear in the upcoming action drama ‘Vellam’, slated for a December release, while director Hidhayath is rumored to be developing a crime thriller for the OTT space. Both will likely feel the pressure to deliver a healthier bottom line.
For now, distributors will tally final settlements, and theatres will clear the screens for the next wave of releases, leaving I’m Game as a cautionary tale about big budgets and thin word‑of‑mouth.
Post‑theatrical, the satellite and digital rights were reportedly sold to a regional TV network and to a streaming platform for an undisclosed sum, a move that could soften the financial blow.
Social media chatter was mixed, while fans praised the visual effects but many criticized the thin plot and pacing, echoing the lukewarm critical consensus that hampered word‑of‑mouth promotion.
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