Archive · 20 Nov 2025
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
- When
- Post-COVID era, particularly in 2025
- Where
- Movie theatres in India
- 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
- 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