2 hrs ago

Indian Cinema Eyes Record Box-Office Year as Festive Releases Approach

Indian movie theatres have already earned more money in 2026 than they did during the same part of last year.

Many popular films are due to arrive during the festive months.

If those films do as well as people expect, this could be the biggest year ever for Indian cinema at the box office.

Ramayana is one of the biggest releases, and it is planned for just before Diwali.

Other films, including Jailer 2 and King, are scheduled around different holiday periods.

Cinema companies say that having big films spread across several months could bring more people to theatres.

They also expect audiences to spend more on premium seats and food.

But the record is not guaranteed; it depends on how the films perform.

Key facts

Box office, January-August 2026: Rs 9,868 crore, up 18% from the same period last year.
Footfalls: Up 5% in the first half of 2026, after three years of flat or declining attendance.
Festive-period box-office forecast: Rs 5,500-5,750 crore, representing expected growth of 10-15% over the comparable period last year.
Potential annual record: More than Rs 15,000 crore in 2026 if festive releases meet expectations.
Ramayana: Scheduled for November 6; projected opening-day collections exceed Rs 100 crore.
Miraj Entertainment forecast: Expected festive-quarter footfall growth of 15-18% and revenue growth of 15-20% year over year.
Advertising forecast: Festive-period on-screen and in-cinema advertising rates and volumes typically rise 8-10%, according to a Miraj Entertainment executive.

financialexpress.com · 2 hrs ago