The box office success of Klim Shipenko’s film Slave-2 surpassed 3 billion rubles in Russia, counting pre-sales, according to UAIS data. This milestone marks the fourth time a locally produced feature has crossed that threshold in the history of domestic distribution. The Film Distributors Bulletin notes that the original Slave reached 3 billion rubles in 46 days after its release, while Slave-2 achieved a similarly formidable result in just 30 days, underscoring the franchise’s growing popularity among Russian audiences. [UAIS] [Film Distributors Bulletin]
Slave, released in 2019, stood as a dominant entry in the Russian box office for an extended period, eventually yielding to the family comedy Cheburashka in the standings. The plan for a sequel, Slave-2, was announced after filming began in Saint Petersburg in the summer of 2023, with principal production wrapping up there. The premiere of Slave-2 occurred on January 1, 2024, positioning the film for a strong start in the new year. [official press records] [Saint Petersburg production notes]
In its first weekend after the premiere, the Trollish comedy Kholop-2 reportedly earned 24 percent more than Cheburashka, the previous year’s box office benchmark. At that time, Slave-2’s cumulative box office stood at roughly 295 million rubles, illustrating rapid momentum as audiences returned to cinemas in significant numbers. These figures reflect a robust market demand for Russian-language cinema and the continuing appeal of franchise narratives in the domestic industry. [box office trackers] [Market analysis reports]
Milosh Bikovich, who stars in both Slave and Slave-2, has commented on the project’s importance, describing it as a highly valuable screen venture for his career. His remarks underscore the personal and artistic investment that performers place in long-running film series, especially when they connect with broad audience sentiment. The actor’s engagement with the series’ evolution helps explain why the films remain a focal point for national entertainment discourse. [interviews] [production notes]
Meanwhile, industry chatter has highlighted Bikovich’s broader career trajectory, including upcoming television projects. Reports have indicated that he will appear in a new season of the acclaimed series White Lotus, signaling how cross-media opportunities can amplify an actor’s profile across both film and television platforms. These movements illustrate the interconnected nature of contemporary entertainment careers in the Russian-speaking market. [casting announcements] [media coverage]