Avengers - Infinity War has taken the highest opening day for a Hollywood release by a margin which was always a certainty and has also taken the highest opening day of the year beating the 25 crore nett of Baaghi 2. The early estimate for the film is around 28-29 crore nett but it could touch 30 crore nett depending on the final figures in the morning from South and Mumbai.
There has been no Hollywood film that has even reached 15 crore nett before this film so its almost double their best in India. The collections have also come on just 2000 screens whereas films like Baaghi 2 and Padmaavat were released on 3500 screens.
Despite the 2000 screens, the capacity was built at especially at multiplexes with ATP's (Average Ticket Prices which were 30% higher than Baaghi 2.
The opening numbers are simply crazy and its funny to see the Hindi film industry and trade especailly later celebrating and rejoicing when in reality its the biggest kick in teeth to the Hindi film industry ever. Only in this industry a kick in the teeth will be celebrated. There was Bahubali - The Conclusion last year but that was still an Indian film at least.
There is the huge Hindi film audience which is just starved for entertainment week in week out. There may be a few festival event films which interest them and maybe the odd one here and there which means they will look elsewhere. Hollywood was getting the upper hand in many clashes with Hindi films but this is another level and it has to remembered its just 2000 screens (if the film was allowed to released on UFO and Qube format then we could even be talking about 40 crore nett) and it was not a holiday.
This is not to say if the Hindi industry had universal Hindi films every fortnight that Avengers - Infinity War would not have opened big. It would have but probably not this big that it in real value it practically takes out every other film. After this beating from Hollywood we will deliver films like 102 Not Out, Raazi and Veere Di Wedding, and yes there is Omerta too for good luck. Its like they are making films for India and only god knows who the majority of Hindi films are made for.
The film is on course for the biggest weekend of the year also though the collections will not grow that much as the film is already recording very high occupancy.
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