It’s a given that 2020 has been nothing less than disastrous for movie exhibition business. But now that the year is nearing it’s end, 2021 may see a box- office logjam of sorts as all the films — Bollywood, Hollywood and others — that have moved to next year, besides the ones that were anyway set for a 2021 outing, will have back-to-back dates with the big screen.

From Bollywood, titles such as Sooryavanshi, '83, Maidaan, Jersey, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai and Laal Singh Chaddha among others have moved to 2021. Plus, a number of films such as Mumbai Saga, Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Brahmastra, Bunty Aur Babli 2, Prithviraj, Shamshera and Bellbottom are either complete or nearing completion.

Experts, on their part, feel a “steady flow” will help the entire ecosystem. “The year 2021 will be a very exciting year as a number of big films will finally hit theatres, which, in turn, will contribute in bringing back people to theatres and, help theatres finally earn some revenue,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, adding that the “big films are the need of the hour” for theatres.

Not just Bollywood movies, a number of topline Hollywood biggies such as West Side Story, Mission: Impossible 7, The Suicide Squad, Top Gun: Maverick, Fast & Furious 9, Black Widow, A Quiet Place Part II, No Time To Die, Morbius and The French Dispatch among others also made their way towards 2021. “After a remarkably bad 2020, a steady and robust flow of quality movies next year can really help bring a lot of things back on track, which is the need of the hour for the entire exhibition sector,” says exhibitor-distribitor Akshaye Rathi.

But what about the logjam at the box office? “In a way, it will be a good problem to have after a disastrous 2020. So, exhibitors and distributors may not complain with the sheer variety,” says filmmaker Anees Bazmee, adding: “But I hope that the release windows can be worked out in a way that no one faces any loss.”

Industry experts are confident that release windows can be spaced out and “makers will do that”.

Adarsh says: “I am sure everyone will space out their releases instead of stepping onto each other’s shoes. Be it screens, footfalls or box-office, they can be divided for everyone’s benefit.”

For Rathi, spacing out a film’s release is directly proportional to a film’s revenue share. “I only hope that all the tentpole films space out their release dates by at least a week because we wouldn’t want a situation wherein two or three of them are out on a day, resulting in business getting divided,” he says.

While Christopher Nolan’s Tenet has brought in some cheer to Indian box-office with opening weekend collections of ₹4.25 crore (it’s expected to make ₹10-12 crore in India), exhibitors -distribitors are surprised that no premium Hindi film has gone for the lucrative Christmas weekend. As of now, only Wonder Woman 1984 and Shakeela are slated for December 25 release. “Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s production, Tuesdays And Fridays may come out on Christmas,” says a source.