Viewers spoilt for choice as hit franchises transcend platforms

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Hit franchises having released initially as either theatrical films or OTT platform shows are no longer restricted to the medium they first arrived on.

While Prime Video has announced a theatrical film version of its action-drama series Mirzapur, Rohit Shetty’s cop universe and the Baahubali movie made their way to streaming after films released in cinemas to box office success. Industry experts say there is sure to be an audience overlap in such cases, as has been proven by the model that has frequently been adopted in Hollywood for franchises such as Star Wars and Avengers to extend the longevity of a brand.

“Extending a franchise from the big screen to OTT or vice versa allows for a richer, more detailed narrative experience. Streaming platforms provide the chance to delve deeper into characters' motivations and backstories, creating a more immersive connection with the audience," said Manish Menghani, director, content licensing, Prime Video, India.

"Audiences get the best of both worlds: the cinematic scale they love and the rich storytelling depth that a series format provides." The Indian Police Force marked an expansion of Rohit Shetty's cop universe into streaming, where fans could enjoy the action and storytelling known of in cinemas but with added layers and character depth that only long-form storytelling can provide, Menghani said. IPF became the most binge-watched first season of an Indian original on Prime Video in the first week of its launch.