After the monumental success of SS Rajamouli's "RRR," audiences have eagerly awaited the next projects from its lead actors, Jr NTR and Ram Charan. In 2024, Jr NTR made his return with "Devara Part 1," while Ram Charan's latest venture, "Game Changer," is set to hit the theaters, creating a much-anticipated box office showdown.

"Game Changer," despite its high expectations, has significantly lagged in advance bookings compared to "Devara." The latter has shown a stronger pre-release buzz, particularly in Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada circuits. However, "Game Changer" managed to carve out a niche in the Tamil and Malayalam markets, suggesting some regional strength for Ram Charan and Kiara Advani's collaboration.

"Devara Part 1" opened with a remarkable gross of ₹135 crore worldwide, with ₹90 crore collected from the Indian market alone and ₹7.50 crore from its Hindi version. The film not only started strong but also concluded its theatrical run with an impressive total of ₹405 crore, cementing its success at the box office.

In contrast, "Game Changer" is projected to open with a collection ranging between ₹90 crore to ₹100 crore globally. While this is not a small figure, it pales in comparison to "Devara's" opening day performance. With the Sankranti festival boosting the domestic market, "Game Changer" has a window to leverage the festive spirit, but it remains to be seen if it can match or surpass "Devara's" earnings.

The early lead by "Devara" in most markets indicates not just a stronger fan base for Jr NTR but also effective pre-release marketing and content that resonated well with a broader audience. For "Game Changer," the focus now shifts to how well it can capitalize on positive word-of-mouth and the festive season's extended holiday period to potentially bridge the gap.

Both films represent significant moments for their respective stars, coming off the high of "RRR." "Devara" has already set a benchmark, and "Game Changer" will need to navigate through its initial lukewarm reception in advance bookings to challenge that lead. It's a compelling narrative of star power, film content, and marketing prowess playing out in real-time at the box office.

As the festive weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on "Game Changer" to see if it can turn the tables or if "Devara" will continue to dominate the narrative of 2024's blockbuster releases.