Tag Archives: Blackmail

Streaming Video News: June 15, 2018

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with the worldwide debut of Lust Stories, a followup to 2013’s anthology film Bombay Talkies (also available on Netflix), featuring new short movies from the same four directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, and Anurag Kashyap.

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime with the addition of the April theatrical release Blackmail, starring Irrfan Khan. Other recent additions include the Tamil films Rombha Nallavan Da Nee, Saivam, Vetri Selvan, and Yaamirukka Bayamey.

Bollywood Box Office: May 11-13, 2018

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Raazi had a terrific opening weekend in North American theaters — the second best of the year after Padmaavat, in fact. From May 11-13, 2018, the spy thriller earned $829,795 from 110 theaters* ($7,544 average), according to Bollywood Hungama. The three other Hindi films to have officially earned more than $1 million here so far ended their theatrical runs with total earnings that ranged from 2.38 (Baaghi 2) to 2.89 (Padmaavat) times the amount each film earned in its opening weekend, so a final tally north of $2 million for Raazi is on the table.

102 Not Out also performed really well, hanging onto 60% of its opening weekend business. Bollywood Hungama reports second weekend earnings of $265,800 from 102 theaters ($2,606 average), while Box Office Mojo reports a higher weekend tally of $293,584 ($2,878 average). Box Office Mojo further reports Monday, May 14 earnings of $22,943 — enough to push the film’s total earnings past the seven-digit mark to $1,007,916.

Other Bollywood movies still showing in US theaters:

  • October: Week 5; $1,111 from four theaters; $$278 average; $517,423 total
  • Blackmail: Week 6; $56 from one theater; $300,270 total

*Bollywood Hungama routinely counts Canadian theaters twice in its weekly reporting, at least for a movie’s first few weekends of release. When possible, I try to verify the correct theater count with other sources, like Box Office Mojo. The above figures represent what I believe to be the actual theater counts. Bollywood Hungama’s reporting technically puts Raazi in 129 theaters (making for a $6,433 per-theater average) and 102 Not Out in 120 theaters ($2,215 average).

Sources: Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Mojo

Bollywood Box Office: May 4-6, 2018

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102 Not Out emerged as a surprise hit over the weekend. According to Bollywood Hungama, the geriatric comedy earned $446,304 from 102 theaters* ($4,376 average) in North America during the weekend of May 4-6, 2018. Box Office Mojo reported slightly higher weekend earnings of $483,681, with further Monday returns of $44,065 bringing the film’s total to $527,746 so far. Before its release, I would not have predicted 102 Not Out to eventually hit the $1 million mark here, but that result looks more likely than not right now.

Other Indian movies showing in North American theaters (no data for Baaghi 2):

  • October: Week 4; $5,353 from ten theaters; $535 average; $514,375 total
  • Blackmail: Week 5; $2,378 from seven theaters; $340 average; $299,590 total

*Bollywood Hungama routinely counts Canadian theaters twice in its weekly reporting, at least for a movie’s first few weekends of release. When possible, I try to verify the correct theater count with other sources, like Box Office Mojo. The above figures represent what I believe to be the actual theater counts. Bollywood Hungama’s reporting technically puts 102 Not Out in 120 theaters (making for a $3,719 per-theater average).

Sources: Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Mojo

Opening May 4: 102 Not Out

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One new Bollywood movie opens in Chicago area theaters on May 4, 2018. The comedy 102 Not Out stars Amitabh Bachchan as a centenarian, and Rishi Kapoor plays his elderly son.

102 Not Out opens Friday at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, MovieMax Cinemas in Niles, AMC Rosemont 18 in Rosemont, AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington, Marcus Addison Cinema in Addison, and Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville. It is rated PG and has a listed runtime of 1 hr. 42 min.

The South Barrington 24 also carries over October, Baaghi 2, and Blackmail.

Other Indian and Pakistani movies showing in Chicagoland this weekend:

Bollywood Box Office: April 27-29, 2018

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No new releases made for a lackluster weekend at the North American box office for Bollywood films. While Avengers: Infinity War set opening weekend records and the Telugu hit Bharat Ane Nenu crossed the $3 million mark, October quietly led the way among Hindi movies with $22,384 from 21 theaters ($1,066 average), according to Bollywood Hungama. The Varun Dhawan drama has total earnings of $498,484 after three weekends in the United States and Canada.

Other Hindi movies still showing in North America (no data for Baaghi 2):

  • Blackmail: Week 4; $7,196 from ten theaters; $720 average; $294,060 total
  • Beyond the Clouds: Week 2; $1,102 from five theaters; $220 average; $40,898 total
  • Hichki: Week 6; $900 from one theater; $766,979 total
  • Raid: Week 7; $564 from one theater; $1,088,345 total

Sources: Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Mojo

In Theaters: April 27, 2018

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No new Hindi movies release in Chicago area theaters the weekend beginning April 27, 2018, which is just as well since every bit of available screenspace is seemingly allotted to Avengers: Infinity War. Beyond the Clouds gets a second week at MovieMax Cinemas in Niles and the AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington, which also holds over October, Baaghi 2, and Blackmail.

Other Indian and Pakistani movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend:

Bollywood Box Office: April 20-22, 2018

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Bollywood films didn’t stand a chance against the Telugu behemoth Bharat Ane Nenu, which earned more than $2.5 million in its opening weekend in North America. The lone new Hindi release — Beyond the Clouds — earned $26,166 from 32 theaters ($818 average)* during the weekend of April 20-22, 2018, according to Bollywood Hungama.

October held up reasonably well in its second week of release, hanging onto 40% of its opening weekend business. It earned $94,549 from 65 theaters ($1,455 average), bringing its total earnings to $438,978.

On the other hand, last weekend’s other new release, Mercury, lost over 90% of its opening weekend business, taking in just $4,799 from ten theaters ($480 average). Its total stands at $76,762.

Other Indian movies still showing in North American theaters (no complete figures for Baaghi 2):

  • Blackmail: Week 3; $16,051 from 13 theaters; $1,235 average; $282,652 total
  • Hichki: Week 5; $5,700 from four theaters; $1,425 average; $763,091 total
  • Raid: Week 6; $1,510 from two theaters; $755 average; $1,087,195 total

*Bollywood Hungama routinely counts Canadian theaters twice in its weekly reporting, at least for a movie’s first few weekends of release. When possible, I try to verify the correct theater count with other sources, like Box Office Mojo. The above figures represent what I believe to be the actual theater counts. Bollywood Hungama’s reporting technically puts Beyond the Clouds in 41 theaters (making for a $638 per-theater average).

Sources: Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Mojo

Opening April 20: Beyond the Clouds

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The touching family drama Beyond the Clouds hits Chicago area theaters on April 20, 2018.

Beyond the Clouds opens Friday at MovieMax Cinemas in Niles and AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington. It has a runtime of 2 hours.

October gets a second week at both of the above theaters, plus the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, AMC Rosemont 18 in Rosemont, and Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville.

Baaghi 2 and Hichki carry over at MovieMax and the South Barrington 24, which also holds over Blackmail.

Other Indian and Pakistani movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend:

Bollywood Box Office: April 13-15, 2018

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October started quietly in North America. During the weekend of April 13-15, 2018, the romantic drama earned $230,776 from 131 theaters* ($1,762 average), according to Bollywood Hungama. That’s the lowest opening weekend total and per-theater average for any Hindi film to open in more than 100 theaters here this year so far, with October‘s earnings lagging behind the next lowest earner in that category — Aiyaary — by $120,000. The only thing working in October‘s favor is a sparse release calendar for the rest of the month, with no major competition taking the field until May 4.

Mercury got off to an even quieter start (I know, bad joke about a movie with no dialogue). The silent thriller earned $55,976 from 87 theaters ($643 average) in spite of higher ticket prices and no discounts. The timing of the Mercury‘s release is a shame since genre fans are still focused on A Quiet Place, which closed in on the $100 million mark domestically over the weekend.

Other Hindi movies still showing in North American theaters:

  • Baaghi 2: Week 3; $47,117 from 58 theaters; $812 average; $1,297,765 total
  • Blackmail: Week 2; $38,336 from 25 theaters; $1,533 average; $253,036 total
  • Hichki: Week 4; $9,768 from eight theaters; $1,221 average; $753,577 total
  • Raid: Week 5; $6,481 from four theaters; $1,620 average; $1,084,042 total
  • Missing: Week 2; $449 from three theaters; $150 average; $6,856 total

*Bollywood Hungama routinely counts Canadian theaters twice in its weekly reporting, at least for a movie’s first few weekends of release. When possible, I try to verify the correct theater count with other sources, like Box Office Mojo. The above figures represent what I believe to be the actual theater counts. Bollywood Hungama’s reporting technically puts October in 150 theaters (making for a $1,539 per-theater average). Mercury did not release in Canada.

Sources: Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Mojo

Opening April 13: October and Mercury

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Two new Bollywood films hit Chicago area theaters on April 13, 2018. First up is the romantic drama October, starring Varun Dhawan.

October opens Friday at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, MovieMax Cinemas in Niles, AMC Rosemont 18 in Rosemont, AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington, Marcus Addison Cinema in Addison, Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville, AMC Showplace Naperville 16 in Naperville, and AMC Loews Woodridge 18 in Woodridge. It has a listed runtime of 1 hr. 45 min.

Also new this week is Mercury, which has no dialogue at all. Prabhu Deva stars in this silent thriller.

Preview shows of Mercury start Thursday night at MovieMax, Century Stratford Square in Bloomingdale, and Cinemark at Seven Bridges in Woodridge. It has a listed runtime of 1 hr. 48 min.

Baaghi 2 carries over at MovieMax, Marcus Addison, and South Barrington 24, which also holds over Hichki, Raid, and Blackmail.

Other Indian and Pakistani movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend: