Bollywood set to cross 75% of 2022 box office collections in September quarter

livemint.com:

Hindi film industry made a remarkable recovery in the September quarter, raking in over ₹1,300 crore, which adds up to 75% of Bollywood’s total earnings for 2022. This significant resurgence is on the back of blockbusters such as Gadar 2 and Jawan, as well as the successful run of mid-sized movies like Dream Girl 2 and OMG 2. The movies have got audiences back to theatres from big cities as well as small towns.

Now, all eyes are on the December quarter. Despite concerns over a limited number of major Hindi releases—Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dunki—there is optimism that Hollywood and regional films will contribute to maintaining the industry’s momentum. Certainly, theatres bore one of the harshest blows from the pandemic.

Cinemas remained closed for extended periods while film releases were scarce even after reopening as audiences moved to OTT platforms. Over 1,500 theatres are estimated to have shut shop during covid. That said, following the revival of the industry led by South Indian films with hits like RRR and Pushpa: The Rise—Part One, several trade experts sounded the death knell for the Hindi movie industry.

“The July-September quarter surpassed highest expectations, marking a record-breaking period for the industry. We have witnessed a remarkable resurgence in theatres, especially those that were hit hard by covid. The renewed enthusiasm can be attributed to the availability of the right content that has deeply resonated with viewers.