DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS has had an excellent first day as it collects around 27-28 crore nett which is around 15% less than the numbers put up by SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME in December. The collections of DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS are likely to edge past SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME in some of Hindi circuits despite all India being less. 

The main shortfall as against SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME is in the South but that film was phenomenal in South. Here South is also fantastic but ratios are more similar to pre pandemic times and the out performance in the South is not as much as it has been post the pandemic. The opening in India is the fourth best for Hollywood after AVENGERS: ENDGAME, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME and AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR.

The reports of the film are average but it did not stop the audience coming as there was urgency. The film had record ticket rates but that also did not deter moviegoers. There will be fireworks in December with AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER as the ticket rates will be pushed higher than this and occupancy will also be better and it will be mad mad opening day. The fact that higher rates do not keep the audience away and huge numbers keep on coming means they will only go more higher for event films. This can be damaging to footfalls as higher the rate then footfalls likely to be less but its all about the weekend number whichever way that comes. 

DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS has scored big because of the Marvel brand and because its a film for the cinemas. The last DOCTOR STRANGE film in 2016 opened to 2.61 crore nett and finished at 25 crore nett and this has beaten that in one day flat. Doctor Strange is not a huge superhero as Spider-Man in India which makes these opening day numbers look even better and getting so close to SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME is a huge result especially as reports not as strong as that film.