Of late, Hollywood films have been doing exceedingly well in India, but Covid-19 crisis is likely to bring things to a halt this year
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 7, 2020)

With shuttered theatres all over the world and millions of people staying at home, the movie business is feeling the heat of the Coronavirus pandemic; and that, too, when summer blockbusters should ideally have been the buzzword. The same holds true for Hollywood business in India, which was on a potent ascent in the country for the past four-five years. Last year, in fact, Hollywood films earned over ₹1,220 crore in India. The corresponding figures for 2017 and 2018 were around ₹850 crore and ₹950 crore, respectively. So, has the lockdown jolted Hollywood’s rise in India?

“With March quarter gone, and the next quarter also looking in doubt, it’s a tough period for everyone, including Hollywood. But don’t write 2020 off yet. If theatres can open around August-September, we will have the last quarter (October-December), which is the big festive period,” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi, who “strongly believes” that regardless of what happens this year, 2021 will be an “astoundingly blockbuster” year thanks to “pent-up demand among people”.

Hollywood biggies would surely hope so, considering that last year, India got its highest Hollywood grosser of all time — Avengers: Endgame (earning close to ₹374 crore). Then, The Lion King made ₹158 crore, becoming one of the the highest Hollywood grossers in India. Joker earned ₹68 crore, despite an adult rating and no dubbed versions. But Hollywood won’t have it easy, thanks to a number of Hindi biggies waiting in line and limited release windows. “It’s going to be a tough fight at the box office. Hollywood films will have to contend with not just Hindi films but also a barrage of biggies down south, too. So, it looks unlikely that the Hollywood business can be as big this year as it has been in the past few years,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

Although a biggie such as the Vin Diesel-starrer Fast & Furious 9 has been pushed to next year, other much-anticipated films such as No Time To Die, Mulan, Black Widow, Free Guy, Top Gun: Maverick, Wonder Woman 1984, Tenet and The French Dispatch are still slated for 2020.

“I won’t be surprised if more Hollywood films get postponed to next year because more than 70% of their business comes from overseas markets such as China and, of late, India, too. And whenever theatres re-open in India, I am sure Hindi films will get priority. So, Hollywood has surely taken a big hit,” says filmmaker Sanjay Gupta.
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Indian numbers talk@2019

Avengers: Endgame: ₹374 crore

The Lion King: ₹158 crore

Spider-Man: Far From Home: ₹86 crore

Captain Marvel: ₹84 crore

Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw: ₹76 crore

(All figures based on industry estimates)

Hollywood box office collections in India in 2019: ₹1,220 crore