Even before hitting the screens this Friday, the highly anticipated English film Avengers: Endgame has elbowed out all competition in the Telugu states — not just English films but Hindi and Telugu too.
In a prudent move, Telugu film Arjun Suravaram has decided to postpone its release due to the Avengers storm. Meanwhile, at Prasads Multiplex, Telugu films have been completely shelved on day 1 to accommodate multiple shows of the English film.
“Many people from cities like Bangalore, Vizag and Chennai approached us for a bulk booking for the IMAX screen,” says K. Kishan, senior executive of Prasads, adding that the demand is comparable to Baahubali 2 or Avatar. “We are screening 21 shows on the first day itself which is unprecedented for an English film,” he adds.
Other multiplexes are also gearing up for multiple shows of the film. “Nearly 65 per cent of our theatres are occupied by this film and we could add more shows but the movie is more than three hours long,” says Sunil Narang, owner of Asian Multiplexes, who adds that nearly 12 multiplexes in the city are all screening the film. “There is a huge demand for the film. The holiday season may be the main reason behind the craze, apart from the fact that this film is the last one of the series,” explains Sunil.
Meanwhile, Nani’s Jersey which fared well in the first weekend is under threat, with Avengers likely to take away all the revenues on the first three days of its release. “Bookings for the first three days are already full although it is too early to predict figures right now,” says Sunil Narang.
Describing how Bollywood films are in a mess because of the Avengers: Endgame release, an industry insider reveals, “Karan Johar preponed Kalank because he knew that his film could be crushed by Avengers in its second week. Had it released on Friday, it would have been a massacre. Smartly, many filmmakers have stayed away this week. Next week however, there are films like Blank & Setters who will have to face the brunt of the action. The film is also carrying good reports which mean another good week at the box-office.”
While Avengers: Endgame brings to an end the big series of 22 superhero films from Marvel which chronicles the war between the Avengers and Thanos, trade pundits predict a good opening and lifetime for the film. Day One is being pegged at Rs 50 crore, Rs125-150 crore for the weekend and a lifetime collection of Rs 300 crore plus.
(Inputs from Sanskriti Media)
