Janatha Garage
‘Janatha Garage’ box office collection: Will Jr NTR’s film beat Sarrainodu, Srimanthudu, Magadheera lifetime records. Pictured: Janatha GaragePR Handout

Junior NTR and Mohanlal's "Janatha Garage" witnessed a steep decline in collection at the U.S. box office on Thursday and failed to surpass the $1 million mark in the country on the first day.

The makers delivered its prints to all the international market well in advance. FICUS Entertainment, which acquired its overseas distribution rights for Rs 7.25 crore, held premiere shows in over 160 screens in North America on Aug. 31, a day before it hit the theatres around the world. Tickets were priced at $25 and some cinema halls offered 20 percent discount on advance booking for "Janatha Garage."

The Koratala Siva-directed action drama film, which had good advance booking, registered superb occupancy in the paid preview shows in North America on Wednesday night. "Janatha Garage" collected $584,225 at the U.S box office in the preview shows. The bosses of FICUS tweeted on Thursday: "#JanathaGarage wednesday (08/31) reported US Premieres $584,225."

"Janatha Garage" smashed the record of superstar Mahesh Babu's "Brahmotsavam," which collected $560,274 at the U.S. box office in the premiere shows. The movie became the third all time highest grossing Telugu film in the paid previews after "Sardaar Gabbar Singh" ($615,853) and "Baahubali" ($1 million).

After seeing its massive response, trade analysts in Film Nagar predicted that the Junior NTR and Mohanlal-starrer would do even better business on Thursday and surpass the $1 million mark. But the mixed word of mouth took a toll on its business on its opening day and "Janatha Garage" witnessed over 60 drop at the U.S. box office, when compared its collection in the premiere shows.

"Janatha Garage" has grossed $153,682 at the U.S box office on the first day, taking its total collection to $736,816. Idlebrain Jeevi ‏tweeted: "#JanathaGarage collects $153,682 on Thursday to take total to $736,816. Weekend starts now and it's a long weekend in USA. " The bosses of FICUS also tweeted: "#JanathaGarage Premiers + Thursday total to $736,816. Long Weekend starts now in USA."