9 months ago
Festive Magic Wanes at Box Office
Big holiday weekends used to mean big money for movies, but that's not happening anymore.
This year, even big holidays like Eid and Diwali didn't help movies make much money.
People are choosing to watch movies at home or do other things on holidays.
To make a hit, movies need to be really good and exciting.
Festive weekends no longer guarantee box office success
Major releases around holidays like Eid, Diwali, and Independence Day underperformed
Theatre owners hiking ticket prices during festivals backfires when films don't draw audiences
Audience evolution and streaming options impact festive weekend box office
Strong storytelling and word-of-mouth now crucial for sustained success
- Who
- Movie audiences and theatre owners
- What
- Experiencing a change in festive weekend box office trends
- Where
- Movie theatres in India
- When
- Post-COVID era, particularly in 2025
- Why
- Audience evolution, streaming options, and lack of strong content
Theatre Owners
Audience & Industry Experts
Ticket Price Hike
Theatre Owners
Theatre owners often hike ticket prices by 20-30% during festivals
Audience & Industry Experts
High-priced tickets ensure people don't come back if the film doesn't deliver
Key facts
- Past Festive Hits
- Dangal (₹387.38 crore), Sultan (₹300.45 crore), Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (₹210.16 crore), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (₹320.34 crore)
- Recent Festive Underperformers
- Thamma (₹123.60 crore), War 2 (₹185.13 crore), Sikandar (₹103.45 crore), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (₹59.17 crore), Maidaan (₹52.29 crore), Tiger 3
Quotes
Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, Managing Director, Miraj Entertainment Ltd
Managing Director of Miraj Entertainment Ltd, a company that operates multiplexes
“The charm of festive weekends has definitely changed. A few years ago, a festival release almost guaranteed packed houses, but that’s no longer the case. Over time, audiences have evolved and they no longer come to cinemas just because it’s a holiday. They come when the film genuinely excites or moves them”
livemint.com
Devang Sampat, Managing Director, Cinepolis India
Managing Director of Cinepolis India
“What we are seeing in 2025, is linked to the slate rather than an erosion of festive pull. The films released this year during these windows did not carry the kind of scale and anticipation that earlier tentpole weekends have enjoyed. Audience behaviour remains consistent. They show up when the storytelling connects, irrespective of the release date”
livemint.com
Vishek Chauhan, Independent Exhibitor
Independent Exhibitor
“Big stars no longer arriving for festivals is a problem, which means content has to do the talking. Plus, hiking ticket rates is a recipe for disaster. If the film doesn’t deliver, high-priced tickets ensure people don’t come back at all”
livemint.com
Sources
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