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Any week when a film of a major star releases, there is so much anxiety that is built up in many people. The anxiety of the fans, who are waiting with bated breath for their favourite star's film to release. The anxiety of the actors involved, as they know that a single film can make or break careers. The anxiety of the director and the rest of the team involved in a film, as their are huge stakes with each film, in terms of both money and reputation.
Of course, their is the biggest anxiety of them all: box office collections! The fans, the stars involved with the film, the director, the producer, etc all eye down the box office collections of the film minute-by-minute. "How much has the film collected today?" How much has the film collected in the opening weekend? What will the lifetime collections? What will be the final box office verdict?" These questions drive everyone crazy!
Admittedly, I get my share of anxiety as well as I predict the box office collections of such big films. If I get it right, I will receive royal treatment. If I get it wrong, let the negativity begin 😆
The anxiety returns this week for everyone. BANG BANG releases this week. Two of the country's biggest superstars Hritikh Roshan and Katrina Kaif in one film. Need I say more?
BANG BANG has a lot in its favor. Two of the country's biggest superstars (Hritikh and Katrina) together to form what is arguably the most good-looking pair in Bollywood. A huge canvas with the film carrying a very grand, classy, Hollywood-style feel. The teaser promo of the film which got a tremendous response. World-class action scenes. The songs which have caught on well with the public. Director Siddharth Anand, who's had some successful films at the box office in the past (such as SALAAM NAMASTE and TA RA RUM PUM). And of course, the national holiday factor that the film has on it's opening day and the extended 5 day weekend that the film has!
BUT, the film has one major obstacle (as everybody knows): the release of HAIDER, which comes the same day as BANG BANG.
Without a doubt, a Hritikh and Katrina film with such huge hype on a national holiday would easily take a 40+ crore opening (including Hindi, Tamil, and Telegu languages). I say this because last year DHOOM 3 got a 36 crore opening (including all languages as well) on a non-holiday. So just imagine what BANG BANG, a film of similar scale, would've done on a national holiday.
But yes, the competition with HAIDER will affect the opening day collection of BANG BANG and will somewhat affect the lifetime collections of BANG BANG.. What works here in BANG BANG's favor is that it is a film that would appeal to the majority of India: it has big (and good-looking) stars, action, grand scale, the songs, light-hearted nature, comedy, romance, the entertainment, etc whereas HAIDER on the other hand is a very dark and intense film with smaller stars in comparison and a very niche appeal.
BANG BANG will still rock the nation though on it's opening day. The film is reportedly releasing on 3500 screens (all language versions). I feel the film will take an earth-shattering opening in the majority of India, multiplexes and single screens alike. At multiplexes of cities, HAIDER will dent the collections of BANG BANG to an extent, but at the smaller centres BANG BANG will be miles ahead of HAIDER. To compare the opening day collection of BANG BANG with the all-time biggest openers would be unfair due to the clash. However, it can be compared to the opening day collection of films like KRRISH 3 and KICK, 2 other huge films that faced obstacles on their opening day (pre-Diwali and pre-Eid period respectively). BANG BANG should have a better opening than KICK in the Hindi version alone, as KICK came on a non-holiday and also lost muslim audience, whereas BANG BANG at least has a national holiday even though it clashes with HAIDER. The opening day Hindi version alone of BANG BANG should touch at least 27 crores, and the other Tamil and Telegu versions can contribute a few more crores. Even with the clash with HAIDER, BANG BANG probably won't lose more than 10 crores, so if BANG BANG were to make 40 crores on it's opening day (all language versions), it would now lose 10 crores and make 30 crores instead.
As for the Word of Mouth, I think BANG BANG will be liked by the audience, carrying a similar decent/good WOM as films like DHOOM 3, KRRISH 3, and KICK. BANG BANG has universal appeal for the audience of India. It has the entertainment for the masses (big stars who are good-looking, action, comedy, dances, etc) and the feel carries a very classy look which will appeal to the classes. The classes would also like the Hollywood-style action, music, romance, and of course they would like the lead pair in the film who are very urban themselves.
BANG BANG has 3 weeks to collect as much as it can before another huge film arrives in the form of HAPPY NEW YEAR. It should also be noted though that on the week of Diwali (the week of October 19), the pre-Diwali period may slightly affect the collections of BANG BANG as the audience may not want to go the theatres at that time. The audience may also not want to go because they would want to save their money for HAPPY NEW YEAR releasing that week. Therefore, BANG BANG's best period to collect at the box office will be in it's first two weeks/two and a half weeks.
There were those that were upset with Fox for not promoting BANG BANG much, but these things don't matter in the bigger picture. BANG BANG will still do huge business. If HAIDER wasn't releasing at the same time, then BANG BANG had a good chance of getting to the 250 crore mark (all language versions) for lifetime collections and possibly would've challenged the lifetime collections of DHOOM 3 (again, all language versions, for both films). The only thing Fox could've done differently was to release the theatrical trailer of BANG BANG earlier if they ended up releasing one anyway. Releasing it with SINGHAM RETURNS (the biggest opener of the year till date) would've been very beneficial. The theatrical trailer of BANG BANG coming approx. a week before the film's release itself didn't provide much benefit as there hasn't been much awareness about the trailer, especially compared to the teaser which made a huge impact on the public.
The last time there was a major clash (JAB TAK HAI JAAN vs SON OF SARDAR) both films did combined lifetime business that was almost equal to the lifetime collections of the biggest grosser at the time 3 IDIOTS. Therefore, I feel BANG BANG and HAIDER combined can equal DHOOM 3's Hindi version of 260 crores, and therefore BANG BANG can do 200 crores in Hindi version alone, and if not, then with the other language versions included (Tamil and Telegu) it should definitely reach the 200 crore mark for lifetime collections.
My Box Office Predictions for BANG BANG (Hindi, Tamil, and Telegu all versions combined):
Opening Day: 30 crores
Opening 5 Day Weekend (Thursday to Monday): 120+ crores
Lifetime Collections: 200 crores
Overall Box Office Verdict: Blockbuster
Some films were made to be Blockbusters. BANG BANG is one of them!
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