Let the myth be busted that audiences no more want to step out of their house for movie watching experience or when they do then they want to do so only for tentpole films or the ones that promise big screen experience. The opening and then success of three Hollywood films in a matter of just couple of weekends has shown that theatre business is buzzing in a big way, and it’s going to stay like this as well, as long as a promise of entertainment is made.
It has happened this weekend as well with both Oppenheimer and Barbie opening quite well and on expected lines. Somehow, with the whole phenomenon of advance booking coming into play, there are no more surprises, be it good or bad, when a film releases. The way advance booking had started for both these films, it was quite apparent that the combined collections would be quite close to Rs. 20 crores and that’s what has happened with Rs. 19 crores* coming in.
While Oppenheimer has taken a fantastic start of Rs. 14.50 crores* (including Thursday night paid previews), Barbie too has collected around Rs. 4.50 crores*. These are fabulous numbers since former has collected the best opening numbers for a Hollywood release in 2023 while latter is the highest opening of all time for a Hollywood rom-com film in India. Since audience word of kith is good to excellent for these two films, expect more than Rs. 50 crores coming in further between today and tomorrow at the box office.
*Estimates. Final numbers awaited
Note: All collections as per production and distribution sources
