I'll also add economy plays a part in film viewing choices too.
When the economy is doing well, and people have decent spending power, they are receptive to watching more films and appreciate a wide variety of films.
When the economy is not doing well, and people have lower spending power, people watch very few films and tend to prefer films that will offer fantasy and escapism.
In a different period when small budget, small-town films were thriving - Animal would have underperformed and Sam Bahadur may have performed better.
But it is all would've, could've, should've.
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