Cheburashka 2 opened on 1 January and quickly became a commercial phenomenon in Russia, with distributors reporting that cumulative takings surpassed 2 billion rubles by the third day of release. The sequel’s rapid performance underscores the enduring popularity of the Soviet-era character and the strength of domestic family films in the New Year box office window.
Cheburashka 2 box office Russia
Official figures for the opening period show significant contributions from presales and daily receipts. Presales accounted for 425,295,585 rubles, while opening day takings on 1 January reached 507,354,616 rubles. The second day brought in 679,874,272 rubles. The cumulative total reported for the first weekend stood at 1,989,163,265 rubles, with distributors indicating that subsequent day-of-week reporting pushed the overall total beyond the 2 billion mark.
The first three days also drew large audiences. Attendance numbered 885,633 on opening day, rose to 1,247,650 on 2 January and reached 975,562 on the third day. Such turnout demonstrates a strong family audience turnout across the holiday period.
Directed again by Dmitry Dyachenko, Cheburashka 2 differentiates itself from its predecessor with the on-screen arrival of Crocodile Gena. The sequel continues the blend of live-action performances and animation that proved successful for the first film. On Russian film site Kinopoisk the new instalment holds a 7.3 rating, reflecting generally favourable audience response.
The first Cheburashka film, released in 2023, set a high bar by becoming the most successful project in modern Russian distribution, collecting in excess of 6 billion rubles since the introduction of the national box office information system. The sequel’s brisk start suggests the franchise remains a major draw for domestic audiences.
Two other family titles that premiered on 1 January also performed well. Prostokvashino claimed second place in three-day takings with a total of 878,557,225 rubles, including 229,882,082 rubles on its opening day. Kinopoisk assigns it a 5.5 rating. Buratino ranked third with 873,356,736 rubles over the same period and an opening-day take of 227,456,979 rubles; its Kinopoisk score is 6.8.
Analysts of the Russian market say the New Year slot remains a lucrative window for family films, particularly for titles that combine nostalgia with mainstream production values. Cheburashka 2’s performance will be closely watched for its potential to join its predecessor among the highest-grossing Russian films in recent years.
As the holiday season continues, distributors will monitor weekday drops and regional performance to assess the film’s medium-term trajectory. For now, Cheburashka 2’s milestone underscores the continued commercial viability of locally produced family entertainment in Russia.
Key Takeaways:
- Cheburashka 2 achieved rapid commercial success in Russia, with cumulative takings passing 2 billion rubles by the third day.
- Strong presales and daily receipts fuelled the run: presales 425,295,585₽; 1 Jan 507,354,616₽; 2 Jan 679,874,272₽.
- Director Dmitry Dyachenko returned; the sequel introduces Crocodile Gena and mixes live actors with animation.
- Other New Year releases—Prostokvashino and Buratino—also posted robust opening-period sales.
