Hollywood bets on a blockbuster summer in India
1 min read 12 Jan 2021, 12:39 PM ISTDisney’s spy thriller Black Widow, F9 and Tom Cruise-starrer Top Gun: Maverick are slated for release
PremiumHollywood is getting ready for an eventful summer of 2021 in India with a slate of big releases such as the new James Bond film No Time to Die in April, Disney’s spy thriller Black Widow, and the latest instalment of the Fast and Furious franchise, F9, in May and Tom Cruise-starrer Top Gun: Maverick in July.
Several smaller titles such as Mortal Kombat, A Quiet Place: Part II, Godzilla vs Kong and The Conjuring will also draw attention during that period.
During the pandemic, the first movie titles to hit the big screen in India were from Hollywood. These include Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and superhero film Wonder Woman 1984 with box office collections of ₹12.43 crore and ₹15.54 crore respectively.
Prospects for films are looking up with the covid vaccine being rolled out.
“India is a small but important market for Hollywood and it is important that they build on the success of Tenet and Wonder Woman that enjoyed the first-mover advantage given the absence of new local films," said film trade and exhibition expert Girish Johar.
Traditionally, big-scale Hollywood films could notch up a screen count of 1,500-2,000 in India, but given the space left over by Bollywood, it would not be surprising if they manage higher showcasing, Johar said.
For now, most Bollywood filmmakers have not locked release dates for their finished projects. Besides, the number of films from local movie industries is likely to be considerably low, adding to the opportunity for Hollywood.
The release of Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984 are clear signs of Hollywood’s intention to look at theatrical showcasing, said Devang Sampat, deputy CEO, Cinepolis India.
The move comes in the wake of several high-profile titles such as Trolls World Tour, Artemis Fowl, Scoob, The King of Staten Island, My Spy and The Lovebirds being taken to video streaming platforms. Other titles such as Disney’s Mulan and Warner Bros’ Wonder Woman 1984 saw a hybrid release model, screening both in theatres and on home devices either simultaneously or as deemed viable in specific territories.
India has often demonstrated its love for Hollywood titles, especially big spectacles such as Avengers Endgame, which is the highest-grossing American film in the country at ₹373.22 crore, followed by Avengers: Infinity War ( ₹227.43 crore) and The Jungle Book ( ₹188 crore).
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