Why are most of the Bollywood Movies not performing well anymore? Know the reasons behind declining collections and changing habits of the audience.
Overview
- 300+ motion pictures come out every year from Bollywood.
- It has been the mainstay of enjoyment since years. The movies, music and stars have created memorable moments.
- But majority of the films are not doing good business at the box office in recent years.
- Even motion pictures with large budget and popular actors are seen struggling.
- This change has raised an important question: Why are Bollywood movies not performing well anymore.
- Are expansive tickets, weak storytelling and constant remakes responsible for it.
Reasons why Bollywood movies not performing well anymore.
Weak Storytelling
- Predictable storyline is one of the biggest reason for movies not doing well.
- Audience can usually guess what’s happening next which kills the excitement.
- People no longer go to cinemas because a known face is included in a movie, they like a persona that links with them and story that keeps them interested till the end.
- A gripping tale can make even a small movie indelible and a timid story can fail badly.
Too Many Remakes and Sequels
- Another cause why Bollywood is on the ropes is the increasing reliance on remakes and sequels.
- Remakes and sequels can be thrilling once in a while but people are dissatisfied to see the same idea coming up continually.
- Many viewers miss watching a new story with unexpected twists.
- Older movies became classics because they connected with audience in a special way.
Overdependence on Star Power
- There was a time in when a Bollywood film can attract huge crowds simply because famous ctor was in the movie.
- Today the time has changed and people want to spend their time and money on a movie that can truly entertain them.
- A big star may create excitement before the release but if the story is weak, people lose interest in the film and share their views on social media.
- Recent years have seen that even big names can give flop movies and small films with good content and performance have become surprise hits.
Image source- britannica
High Ticket Prices
- Another reason why many Bollywood movies are struggling is the rising price of the trip to the theatre.
- For a family, buying several tickets along with popcorn, drink and transportation can be a costly affair.
- People think carefully before choosing which movie deserves their movie.
- If they are unconfident about the report of the film or hear divided opinions, they decide to watch it on streaming platforms later.
- This change has made it harder for a regular film to get people and the movies that have enjoyment or an upbeat word tend to fill theatres today.
Rise of Streaming Platforms
- The expansion of streaming platforms has changed the method of recreation.
- Earlier, going to a theater was the only method to view a motion picture.
- Now, people can sit at home and pick from thousands of films, web series and international shows with easily accessible.
- Streaming services are easy, cost effective and you are free to view anything at your convenience.
- Many of us like to enjoy peaceful time at home keeping away from packed theaters and costly tickets.
- OTT gives good global content at home and now Bollywood movies have to work hard to bring audience in.
Strong Regional Cinema
- Another main cause for Bollywood’s struggle is the rapid expansion of south Indian movies.
- Movies from Telegu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada film industry are now reaching individuals far away from their origin.
- People like their fresh stories, strong characters and the confidence with which the film show their culture.
- With dubbing and subtitles obtainable, language is not a matter.
- Over the past few years, many regional films have done well in the Hindi belt and are liked by critics too.
- Bollywood cannot rely on its star charisma or size and it has to keep giving big hits regularly.
Stars Are Charging Heavily
- Actors in Bollywood are charging fees ranging from 30 Crores to 150 crores which makes the movie budget go sky high.
- All the leading heroes are asking for fees that is hard to recover if the movie does not do well.
- Film making is a team work and only actors take the glory when a movie does well.
Image source- youthkiawaaz
Actor Suniel Shetty Say Audience Won’t Come To Watch Trash
- In an interview to Bollywood Bubble actor Suniel Shetty talked about over budget and quality of the films being made. He said “We need to go back to the drawing board and understand how economics work. A product can’t be top-heavy with the celebrity fee. For a Rs 100 product, you cannot pay Rs 80 as fee and spend Rs 20 on the product, which means it’s lopsided, it’s wrong, and the foundation is weak, that’s why we are going wrong.”
- He correctly added, “Anything which had Suniel Shetty not doing action never sold because distributors didn’t buy the film. The distributors used to see rushes and demand a couple of action scenes and a rain dance song. Then, distributors and audiences used to have a say. Today, there is a complete disconnect. Today, producers only are distributors and they do not understand what the audience wants. When 70% of India is mass, you are giving them a subject which is in Mars and not mass. There is no connect.”
- He also explained the difference between the times today and the 90’s “We weren’t judged as much as we are judged today. It’s too judgemental today. When I did my debut film, Arzoo, it got shelved. But luckily the word of mouth about my action was good, so I signed other films. If it had happened today, I would have been destroyed. I would have received backlash on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.”
Conclusion
Bollywood’s recent phase does not mean that people dislike Hindi cinema. Audiences still want to see films that make them diggle, sob and think. The difference is that viewers have more choice than before so they want more value for their time and money. Good cinema will always have audience and there will be no question on why Bollywood movies are not performing well anymore.
FAQ’s
Why are people becoming more selective about watching Bollywood movies in cinemas?
People only pick those movies which have good reviews and create excitement. Movie ticket prices are high and food is also expensive which forces them to be selective.
Has South Indian cinema’s success affected Bollywood?
The South industry is making quality films and releasing them all over as Pan India films. It is surely affecting Bollywood.
Thumbnail image source- nfi.edu
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