Retro is a Tamil action drama film released in theatres on May 1, 2025. The movie stars a top Tamil superstar in the lead role. The film mixes action, emotion, and a strong message, set in the backdrop of the 1980s. The director tried to bring back the retro style with modern storytelling, which gave the movie a unique feel
The film opened with high expectations. Fans were excited to see the lead actor in a never-before-seen role. The music, dialogues, and visuals created a nostalgic mood. The movie got mixed to positive reviews. Some audiences praised the emotional storyline and performances, while others felt the second half was slow
Even with mixed reviews, the film had a solid opening at the box office. The advance booking and first weekend numbers were good. In Tamil Nadu, it performed especially well in cities and towns. You can also check similar recent releases like Thug Life Hit Or Flop for comparison
Box Office India Net
On Day 1, Retro collected ₹19.25 crore net in India. This was a very strong opening and among the biggest for a Tamil film in 2025. The first three days (weekend) total was ₹43 crore net
By the end of the first week, the film collected around ₹60.26 crore net in India. The numbers started to drop after the first weekend, but the film held steady in some regions
In the second week, collections slowed down, and the total net collection after 18 days is ₹61.75 crore
If you want to compare with other Tamil movie collections, check out Devil's Double Next Level Hit Or Flop
Box Office India Grossed
The total India gross collection of Retro is approximately ₹71.35 crore. This is before tax deductions. Gross collection includes all the ticket sales without removing GST and other charges
Most of the collections came from Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai regions. The film also performed in Telugu-dubbed regions, but the response there was low
The film saw a drop in ticket sales after the second week due to new releases
Worldwide Grossed
The total worldwide gross of Retro stands at ₹97.35 crore. The film did not perform big in overseas markets like the USA or Gulf countries, but it had a decent run in Malaysia and Sri Lanka due to Tamil-speaking fans
The global collection helped the film recover most of its budget. But it did not become a superhit internationally
For comparison, you can also check Raid 2 Hit Or Flop which also had a big international release
Day Wise Box Office (Worldwide and India Net)
Day 1: ₹19.25 crore
Day 2: ₹7.75 crore
Day 3: ₹8 crore
Day 4: ₹8.15 crore
Day 5: ₹3.4 crore
Day 6: ₹2.5 crore
Day 7: ₹2 crore
Day 8: ₹1.9 crore
Day 9: ₹1.5 crore
Day 10: ₹1.2 crore
Day 11: ₹1 crore
Day 12: ₹80 lakh
Day 13: ₹60 lakh
Day 14: ₹50 lakh
Day 15: ₹35 lakh
Day 16: ₹25 lakh
Day 17: ₹20 lakh
Day 18: ₹11 lakh
The drop was clear after the first week, and the movie started struggling to maintain screens in theatres. It lost many shows after the second weekend
For better day-wise growth, you can check Kesari Veer Hit Or Flop
Hit Or Flop
Now the big question: Is Retro a hit or a flop
The answer is: Average
Here’s why
The film opened well and covered most of its cost in the first week. But after that, collections dropped, and it couldn’t grow like a hit film. Even though the movie was close to reaching ₹100 crore worldwide, it did not cross that mark
The film recovered its cost but didn’t make a huge profit. It didn’t flop, but it also didn’t become a big success. So it is declared Average at the box office
Want to read about a recent hit? Visit Jinn – The Pet Hit Or Flop
Budget
The estimated budget of Retro is ₹60 crore. This includes
Actor salaries
Direction and production cost
VFX, sets, and camera work
Promotions and advertising
Distribution and release
For the film to be a clean hit, it needed to earn at least ₹120 crore worldwide. Since it earned ₹97.35 crore globally, it was just short of hitting that target
It didn’t lose money, but it also didn’t double its cost in returns, which is what most hit films aim for
If you're curious about another film with a similar budget range, check out Rajaputhiran Hit Or Flop
Final Words
Retro had a lot of promise and hype. It delivered good performances and had a strong opening. However, the mixed reviews and slow second-week response made it difficult to sustain long at the box office. It ended its theatrical run as an average performer
The movie might do well on TV or OTT platforms where family audiences could enjoy its emotional story and retro feel
