News Desk: Superstar Rajinikanth’s latest film, Jailer 2, has encountered a setback in Canada, where exhibitor York Cinemas has announced that it will stop screening the film from October 21, 2026. The decision comes just days after the action drama crossed ₹540 crore in worldwide gross collections during its opening week.
Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, the sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Jailer was released in theatres on October 15. The film has enjoyed a strong opening at the box office, benefiting from the festive season and limited competition in the Tamil film market. However, a dispute involving the Canadian exhibitor and the film’s North American distributors has now disrupted its theatrical run in the country.
Why have screenings been stopped?
York Cinemas announced the decision through a statement shared on Instagram. The exhibitor said the screenings would end from Wednesday, October 21, citing circumstances beyond its control.
According to the cinema chain, it had fulfilled all the required financial commitments and payments. However, it claimed that the necessary Key Delivery Messages (KDMs) had not been provided by the North American distributors, Shloka Entertainments and Prathyangira Cinemas, following the required authorisation from the production company, Sun Pictures.
KDMs are digital keys used to authorise the playback of encrypted films on cinema servers. Without valid keys, theatres may be technically unable to screen a movie, even when other arrangements have been completed.
York Cinemas said it had made efforts to resolve the matter and continue the screenings but had not received the necessary authorisation. The exhibitor also apologised to moviegoers for the inconvenience.
As of the report’s publication, the distributors and producers had not issued a response to the announcement.
Jailer 2’s box office performance
Despite the disruption in Canada, Jailer 2 has recorded impressive early box office numbers. According to trade website Sacnilk, the film collected approximately ₹289.05 crore net in India and ₹338.45 crore in worldwide gross collections from its domestic theatrical run during the first six days.
With an additional overseas gross of around ₹204 crore, its worldwide collection reportedly reached ₹542.45 crore within its first week.
The film’s performance has been supported by Rajinikanth’s popularity, the return of director Nelson Dilipkumar and the success of the original Jailer. The festive period also helped attract audiences to theatres.
A star-studded cast
Alongside Rajinikanth, the film features Ramya Krishnan, Mirnaa, Yogi Babu, S. J. Suryah, Mithun Chakraborty, Vidya Balan and Suraj Venjaramoodu. Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, Jackie Shroff, Hrithik Roshan and Vijay Sethupathi appear in cameo roles.
The Canadian screening halt raises questions about whether the dispute could affect the film’s overseas collections in the coming days. Its broader box office performance will depend on how quickly the issue is resolved and whether screenings resume.
For now, Jailer 2 continues to draw attention for both its commercial success and the distribution dispute that has interrupted its release in Canada.
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