The Indian film industry is gearing up for a long list of blockbuster releases but it seems that the public is not very interested in filling up the theatres to watch these movies.
Only one in five people (22%), who responded to the LocalCircles’ survey, said that they intended to watch a movie at a multiplex or theatre in the next 60 days.
This is merely half of what it was in March 2022. In a similar vein, as per the poll by LocalCircles in December 2021, 14% of citizens planned to visit a movie theatre. According to the report, this number increased to 41% in the March survey and is presently at 22% in August 2022. It also stated that figures are likely to decrease by half.
The outcome of the recent survey, which included responses from 11,707 people in 302 districts around India, showed that 51% of those who participated have no plans to view a movie in a multiplex or movie theatre in the next 60 days. Nineteen per cent of the respondents stated that they never go to the cinema.
The study reveals consumer perceptions of major blockbusters scheduled for release in August and September, including Laal Singh Chaddha, Raksha Bandhan and Brahmastra Part One: Shiva.
The Indian film industry’s first three months were quite successful with films like RRR, KGF Chapter 2, Bhool Bhulaiya 2, Kashmir Files and others drawing hundreds of people to theatres.
Shamshera, Prithviraj Chauhan, Ek Villain Returns and Jayeshbhai Jordaar, which came and went from theatres over a few weeks, gave the impression that the momentum had slowed.
The business sector is also concerned about the impact that the film industry will have despite several big-budget releases due to the performance of recent films. This was one of the main inquiries that PVR and INOX received from analysts on their earnings calls for the June quarter.
In addition, individuals in the LocalCircles survey were questioned about their recent theatre viewing habits. Twenty-nine per cent of people responded favourably to that. The remaining 29% stated they don’t go to movie theatres, while 49% of respondents said they do.
