Avengers: Endgame has recorded the highest opening weekend box office earnings in India, having earned $25.7 million in three days.
BookMyShow users have given Avengers: Endgame a 95% popularity vote
The only other film that has been able to earn more than that in the history Indian movie releases, is Baahubali: The Conclusion, S. Rajamouli’s epic action film that released in 2017. Even before Avengers: Endgame released in India, the ticketing portal, BookMyShow.com, had reported an advance booking of a celestial 2.5 million tickets bought at a peak rate of 18 tickets per second. The film, along with the original, has also been released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, ensuring that the film is able to draw in audiences all over the country. This is a great strategy, given that Bollywood’s Hindi films and the country’s regional films often end up restricting its audience base and attract audiences within its own niche.
Given that a large chunk of Indian theatres do not comply with DCI guidelines, Avengers: Endgame released in about 2,845 screens, as compared to the 4000-plus screens release an average Bollywood release enjoys. Baahubali: The Conclusion, for example, was released on 6,000+ screens. While an average multiplex ticket costs around INR 175 ($2.50), tickets for Endgame cost INR 275 with premium seating tickets going up to INR 1,700 ($24.35). When it comes to a global hype like this one, it is clear that urban Indians have stopped counting their pennies. In addition, when most films are not allowed to screen post-midnight, several multiplexes have been allowed to remain open all day and schedule shows for as early as 6 am, most of which have been sold out. INOX Leisure Ltd, a multiplex theatre chain, has devoted 90% of its screens for the film, while PVR, another multiplex giant, has dedicated 70% of its over 750 screens to play Endgame, all unprecedented numbers.
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While it is too early to deduce whether, with Endgame’s extraordinary success at the box office in its opening weekend, Hollywood is all set to take over the Indian film market but it definitely is an indicator of the changing consumer trends when it comes to the movie watching business in the country.
