Star-studded, high-budget spectacle films fizzle out after big openings

Contrary to the perception that big-budget films featuring mainstream stars and high on visual spectacle or slick action stunts are shining at the box office, especially post covid, recent Bollywood titles such as Tiger 3, Adipurush, and Ganpath have fizzled out, in some cases, failing to build on big openings.

- Lata Jha

Theatre owners and trade experts say the word-of-mouth around films has become hugely critical and audiences are no longer stepping out for even big stars. Despite mass-market elements of action, drama and special effects, these films did not generate adequate excitement among viewers.

Tiger 3, for instance, opened on the day of Diwali at ₹44.50 crore, jumping by 33.15% the day after, also a holiday in much of the country, to earn another ₹59.25 crore. However, the film ended the first week, a festive one with multiple holidays, with only ₹188.25 crore and had clocked in a total of ₹271.75 crore at last count. Combined with overseas collections, the producers should be able to take home about ₹175 crore at the end of the movie’s box-office run, trade experts say, making for underwhelming numbers when other star vehicles such as Jawan and Pathaan have crossed the ₹500-crore mark within India alone.