The re-release of Interstellar (2014) has created tremendous excitement in India. The film was expected to fetch a great opening but the way the advance sales have been has stunned one and all. Bollywood Hungama has learned that the film has sold nearly 1.40 lakh tickets as of January 28. With the release being more than a month away, the number is only expected to grow with each passing day.
The advance booking of Interstellar’s re-release began 20 days before its release on February 7, that is, around January 16. A source told us, “The trend of starting advance booking a few weeks before release has gone down now as the theatres insist on the censor certificate before selling tickets. The certificate is usually granted a week or 5-6 days before release and that’s when the advance booking commences. But Interstellar already has a censor certificate as it originally released way back in 2014. And looking at the excitement, Warner Bros decided to open the ticket sales well in advance. The decision proved right as tickets started getting sold like hot cakes.”
The source further said, “These 1.40 lakh tickets amount to collections of Rs. 5 crore gross. It is important to note that these tickets have been sold across six days, from February 7 to February 12. Yet, it is clear that the first day will be huge as more people will now buy tickets.”
The first-day earnings of Interstellar in November 2014 were around Rs. 2 crores and its sure that on its re-release, it’ll cross this figure. Christopher Nolan’s last film Oppenheimer (2023) had sold 2 lakh tickets and it had an opening of Rs. 14.45 crores. Closer to the release date, we’ll get an idea on how many tickets have been sold for Interstellar’s re-release for its opening day and then it’ll be possible to predict the collections. Nevertheless, its definitely going to be more than double the figure it had on its original release day.
This means that Interstellar will break the envious record of highest re-release opening day of Tumbbad (Rs. 1.50 crores) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (Rs. 1.10 crores). Tumbbad managed to collect a huge Rs. 31 crores in its lifetime and during its re-release and Interstellar has the potential to break this record as well.
Limited run
But there’s one hiccup. Interstellar is expected to be in cinemas only for a week. But a trade expert told us, “If the demand is there, the theatres will definitely play its shows in the second week. Captain America: Brave New World releases in IMAX on February 14 and it’ll take up all the IMAX screens. Again, if Interstellar is playing with house full shows through the week, it might get one show at least in the IMAX theatres but its too early to say how things will play out.”
Ticket rates hiked
What was also enticing about Interstellar was that the tickets even for IMAX screens were available for around Rs. 200-300. However, looking at the demand, the multiplexes have activated the dynamic pricing strategy. The IMAX tickets are now available for Rs. 450 and even Rs. 499 in some screens, dampening the sprit of the fans.
24 hour shows
Earlier, Miraj IMAX Wadala, Mumbai was the only cinema to have shows for 24 hours. Now more cinemas have added shows of Interstellar round the clock like PVR, Lower Parel and Inox R City, Ghatkopar in Mumbai. The other theatres, not just in Mumbai but other cities, are also expected to follow suit. As of now, Interstellar is releasing in 120 screens and the figure will increase in the opening week.
Brand Nolan
These figures also make it clear how there’s an unbelievable fan following of Christopher Nolan. An industry insider remarked, “Nolan’s films are not easy to decipher and yet, audience wants to buy tickets, even for a re-release of his old film. Imagine what would happen when his next film, The Odyssey, will arrive in cinemas and how it’ll create new records.”
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Deepika Padukone fans, rejoice; after Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, now Padmaavat expected to re-release on January 24
from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/nTbKead
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