Tag Archives: Photograph

Streaming Video News: August 19, 2019

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime with dozens of Indian films added in the last five days, including a bunch of 2019 releases:

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with the additions of the 2019 releases 90ml (Tamil) and Uyare (Malayalam).

There are three 2019 releases of note likely to make their streaming debuts this week, according to Bollywood Buff. Taapsee Pannu’s thriller Game Over — which released theatrically in the United States in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi — comes to Netflix on August 21, followed by Article 15 on August 24. Student of the Year 2 is slated to join Amazon Prime on August 26 in India, which — because of the time difference — would see it become available in the US on Sunday, August 25 in the afternoon.

Bollywood Box Office: August 2-4, 2019

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Sonakshi Sinha’s comedy Khandaani Shafakhana had a disastrous opening weekend in North America, earning just $29,631 from 50 theaters ($593 average), according to Bollywood Hungama. This is the latest in a string of disappointing performances by Sinha’s comedies here, starting last winter with Welcome to New York ($111,044 opening; $225,366 total), and followed in the summer by Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi ($66,179 opening; $135,815 total).

Judgementall Hai Kya held up well in its second weekend, earning $106,624 from 52 theaters ($2,050 average) and bringing its total to $456,252. Last weekend’s other new release — Arjun Patiala — fell hard, its business dropping by almost 95%. It earned just $4,091 from 12 theaters ($341 average). Its total stands at $106,804.

In its seventh weekend, Kabir Singh earned $13,275 from eight theaters ($1,659 average), bringing its total to $2,604,106. One interesting note about Kabir Singh‘s strong box office performance is that 40% of its North American total has come from Canada. Even big Hindi releases only open in 20-40 theaters in Canada, compared to 100-300 theaters in the United States, meaning that most Bollywood films derive about 20% of their combined North American total from Canada. 40% — over $1 million in Kabir Singh‘s case — is huge!

Other Hindi movies still in North American theaters:

  • Super 30: Week 4; $82,767 from 75 theaters; $1,104 average; $2,266,658 total
  • Article 15: Week 6; $980 from two theaters; $490 average; $1,058,891 total
  • Photograph: Week $50 from one theater ;$351,408 total

Source: Bollywood Hungama

Streaming Video News: July 30, 2019

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I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with the addition of the 2019 release 7, which is available in both Tamil and Telugu. The Netflix original Hindi horror series Typewriter was also recently added, and the reporting about it here in the United States has been a little awkward.

Some Netflix expiration dates of note include Amu on August 1, Jab We Met on August 2, and Parched on August 5.

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime with dozens of new additions in the last week, notably the 2019 releases Kantharam (Malayalam) and Rustum (Kannada) and the restored version of the 1928 silent film Shiraz: A Romance of India.

So, what new movies can we hope to find on the streaming services in August? Badla is almost certain to hit Netflix on August 8, five months after its theatrical release. The second season of Sacred Games drops on August 15, with Article 15 joining Netflix on August 24. Over on Amazon Prime, Bollywood Buff expects Salman Khan’s Bharat to become available for streaming on August 2 followed by Student of the Year 2 on August 26. In between, we’ll get director Ritesh Batra’s Photograph on Prime on August 16. Happy viewing!

Bollywood Box Office: July 26-28, 2019

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Two new Hindi releases met very different fates at the North American box office during the weekend of July 26-28, 2019. The Kangana Ranaut-Rajkummar Rao dark comedy Judgementall Hai Kya scored big, earning $248,781 from 59 theaters ($4,217 average), according to Bollywood Hungama. I’m surprised it didn’t open in more theaters, given the popularity of its lead actors.

The weekend’s other new release — Arjun Patiala — appears to have been a victim of theatrical overreach or bad timing (or both). The Diljit Dosanjh-Kriti Sanon romantic comedy earned just $67,407 from 73 theaters ($923 average). Two Punjabi-language releases — Chal Mera Putt and Ardaas Karan — performed really well here over the weekend, siphoning off much of Dosanjh’s core fanbase despite both Punjabi films showing on less than half as many screens as Arjun Patiala.

Super 30 held strong in its third weekend, earning enough to push it past the $2 million mark. The biographical drama earned $189,224 from 128 theaters ($1,478 average), bringing its total to $2,111,832, according to Box Office Mojo.

Other Hindi movies still showing in North America:

  • Kabir Singh: Week 6; $19,378 from 18 theaters; $1,077 average; $2,573,373 total
  • Article 15: Week 5; $7,705 from nine theaters; $856 average; $1,054,918 total
  • Photograph: Week 11; $111 from one theater; $351,358 total

Sources: 143 Cinema, Bollywood Hungama, and Box Office Mojo

Bollywood Box Office: July 19-21, 2019

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Super 30 had a really nice second weekend after a slow opening in North America. From July 19-21, 2019, the biographical drama earned $441,945 from 189 theaters ($2,338 average), according to Box Office Mojo. It held onto 50% of its opening weekend business — the best carryover rate for the year so far among Hindi films that debuted in at least 150 theaters. Its 10-day total stands at $1,731,646.

Kabir Singh did a brisk business in its fifth weekend of release, earning $58,482 from 25 theaters ($2,339 average), according to Bollywood Hungama. That brings its total to $2,509,109.

Article 15 closed out its fourth weekend with $23,700 from 17 theaters ($1,394 average), pushing the thriller’s total to seven digits: $1,038,992.

Here’s a fun fact: of the 28 Hindi films to release in North America in 2019, half have earned more than $1 million. I looked back through the last five years of box office data, and only two years — 2016 and 2018 — had more than 14 $1 million-earners total (15 and 18 movies, respectively). It’s super unlikely that the 50% ratio will hold through the end of the year, but nevertheless, a lot of Hindi films are going to make a lot of money here in 2019.

Meanwhile in Canada, Photograph earned $134 from one theater. After ten weeks in North America, it’s earned $351,247.

Sources: Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Mojo

Bollywood Box Office: July 12-14, 2019

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Super 30 went for a huge release in North America but came up short at the box office. From July 12-14, 2019, the biographical drama earned $870,726 from 317 theaters ($2,747 average), according to Box Office Mojo. That’s the second biggest opening weekend theater count here this year — just three theaters fewer than Kalank. Yet Kalank made $1.27 million in its opening weekend and averaged $3,989 per theater. In fact, Super 30 is the only Hindi film to open in more than 250 theaters here this year and not earn at least $1 million, and it’s the only release among the eleven highest earners to average less than than $3,000 per theater.

While reaching a final total of $2 million won’t be a walk in the park, Super 30 has two things working in its favor. No major new Hindi movies are opening here this weekend, during which much of the United States will experience dangerously hot temperatures, making theaters an especially appealing entertainment option.

Kabir Singh continued its strong run, earning $120,467 from 58 theaters ($2,077 average), according to Bollywood Hungama. It’s only the third film this year to earn six figures in its fourth weekend of release (of the sixteen titles that lasted that long). It has total earnings so far of $2,364,342.

Article 15 also performed well, finishing its third weekend with $76,314 from 41 theaters ($1,861 average) and bringing its total to $973,076.

Other Hindi movies still in North American theaters:

  • Photograph: Week 9; $1,363 from three theaters; $454 average; $350,475 total
  • Bharat: Week 6; $385 from one theater; $2,921,228 total
  • Malaal: Week 2; $39 from two theaters; $20 average; $3,668 total

Sources: 143 Cinema, Bollywood Hungama, and Box Office Mojo

Bollywood Box Office: July 5-7, 2019

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Malaal opened in North American theaters, and no one noticed. Okay — about 300 people noticed, based on the average price of a movie ticket. From July 5-7, 2019, Malaal made $2,711 from 16 theaters ($169 average), according to Bollywood Hungama.

Independence Day weekend was much better for Article 15 and Kabir Singh. In its second weekend of release, Article 15 took in $186,626 from 76 theaters ($2,456 average) — a first-to-second weekend holdover of almost 50%. The thriller has earned $795,409 so far. Kabir Singh earned $239,593 from 92 theaters ($2,604 average) in its third weekend of release, bringing its total to $2,069,812.

Other Hindi movies still showing in North America:

  • Photograph: Week 8; $3,044 from one theater; $346,330 total
  • Bharat: Week 5; $2,779 from five theaters; $556 average; $2,920,037 total

Sources: 143 Cinema and Bollywood Hungama

Bollywood Box Office: June 28-30, 2019

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Article 15 had a nice opening weekend in North America. From June 28-30, 2019, the award-winning drama earned $386,920 from 104 theaters ($3,720 average), according to Bollywood Hungama.

Meanwhile, Kabir Singh continued its super run for a second weekend, taking in $451,411 from 144 theaters ($3,135 average). It held onto about 70% of its opening weekend business, making it one of only five Hindi movies to hold onto more than 50% it their opening weekend business here this year so far. Kabir Singh‘s total currently stands at $1,540,044.

Other Hindi movies still showing in North American theaters:

  • Bharat: Week 4; $18,385 from 19 theaters; $968 average; $2,907,118 total
  • Photograph: Week 7; $951 from two theaters; $476 average; $342,816 total
  • Game Over: Week 3; $293 from three theaters; $98 average; $146,044

Source: Bollywood Hungama

Bollywood Box Office: June 21-23, 2019

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Kabir Singh got off to a good start, posting the sixth best opening weekend total and per-theater average for a Hindi film in North America this year. From June 21-23, 2019, the Arjun Reddy remake earned $639,994 from 144 theaters ($4,444 average), according to Bollywood Hungama.

Other Bollywood movies still showing in North American theaters:

  • Bharat: Week 3; $63,816 from 46 theaters; $1,387 average; $2,856,353 total
  • Game Over: Week 2; $5,518 from 12 theaters; $460 average; $143,894 total
  • Photograph: Week 6; $2,135 from three theaters; $712 average; $339,441 total
  • De De Pyaar De: Week 6; $678 from one theater; $1,048,952 total

Sources: 143 Cinema and Bollywood Hungama

Bollywood Box Office: May 31-June 2, 2019

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The weekend of May 31-June 2, 2019, was predictably slow for Bollywood movies in North America because of the impending release of Salman Khan’s Bharat on June 5, but there’s also a real lack of audience interest in the Hindi films currently on offer. Three-week-old De De Pyaar De led the way with $64,458 from 52 theaters ($1,240), according to Bollywood Hungama. With $992,995 in earnings so far, the comedy is on the verge of becoming the tenth Hindi film to earn $1 million in North America this year.

That’s where the good news ends. Both of the films in their second weekend of release failed to average $1,000 in per-theater earnings. PM Narendra Modi took in $12,110 from 16 theaters ($757 average), bringing its total to $109,885. India’s Most Wanted was absolutely tragic, earning $18,111 from 80 theaters — a per-theater average of just $226, according to Box Office Mojo. Even with its large theatrical footprint (having opened on 110 screens), it’s only managed to earn $168,016 here so far.

Photograph is struggling as well. In its third weekend, it earned $44,234 from 81 theaters ($546 average), bringing its total to $302,463. That’s almost exactly what director Ritesh Batra’s previous film The Lunchbox had earned at the end of its third weekend back in 2014: $306,347. However, The Lunchbox was only showing in 18 theaters at the time and was averaging almost $5,000 per screen. The Lunchbox didn’t hit its peak theater count (165) until Week 9, and its per-theater average didn’t fall below $1,000 until Week 15. The Lunchbox finished its run with $4.2 million in earnings, but it looks like Photograph might top out at about 10% of that.

Student of the Year 2 closed out its fourth weekend with $751 from three theaters, bringing its total to $738,134.

Sources: Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Mojo