The Re-opening of Cinema Halls And How Their Fate Swims In Troubled Water.

By Ehraz asmad Zaman | 1.1k |

But it seems like all their tactics to attract moviegoers are failing terribly as theaters around the country are recording terrible attendance, with some even having less than 35% occupancy.

Cinema halls have always been a ‘Disney land’ for movie lovers around the world. The experience of watching a big-ticket film on a large screen with hundreds of other people, all of whom are going through the same emotions, is unmatched by any other mode of entertainment. Cinema halls thrive on the community viewing experience that elevates the overall experience of watching films. Be it a romantic date, a reunion with friends, or a family outing, cinema halls are the perfect place to go.
A closed movie theater in Brooklyn.
All of this had made it very hard for people to completely banish cinema halls from their lives in these past seven months due to the nationwide lockdown that was implemented across different countries. The lockdown was imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic that struck the world in March this year. This compelled all the public places to shut down for months.
But since there has been a huge drop in the COVID cases around the world, cinema halls are slowly opening for business. But the big question that needs to be asked is that whether they will be able to cover their losses in the upcoming months or would they have to wait for the next year to start raining gold and silver?
A sanitation worker sanitizing a movie theater.

Re-opening of Cinema Halls After Seven Months-

Movie Theaters have already opened for business in countries like Finland, Egypt, China, Hong-Kong. This has compelled a lot of other countries to follow their footsteps by planning to allow the re-opening of cinema halls. Since India is also going through a process of re-opening its economy, movie theaters here are also planning to open for business.
A movie theater screening a film.
In November, a lot of states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, etc. have allowed movie theaters to re-open for business. PVR, India’s largest film exhibitor who owns 845 screens around the country, has already opened 437 screens around the country. Other major exhibitors are also planning to re-open their screens. But the question that still haunts exhibitors is that whether people will attend their screenings or not?

The Troubling Fate of Movie Theaters In India And Their Clash With OTT Platforms-

Although cinema halls have opened, they have been made to follow certain guidelines which include allowing only 50% occupancy and packaged foods. Other rules follow that every person has to wear a face mask through the entirety of the film and people with cold and fever won’t be allowed an entry inside movie theaters. All these rules have made people apprehensive of attending movie theaters. Making things worse is the fact that no new releases are coming out sooner or later. All the big-ticket films have already been bought by OTT platforms for online streaming which allows people to watch their favorite films.
Theaters have been advised to conduct regular spraying.
A lot of films in the past seven months have gotten an online release through various streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Dinsey+, Sony Liv, etc. Many big-ticket films like Gulabo Sitabo , Laxmii , Shakuntala Devi: Human Computer , Ludo , Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl , Raat Akeli Hai , Serious Men , etc. have all gotten massive online releases. Since the rights of these films are in the hands of streaming platforms, theaters cannot screen them at any cost.
Shakuntala Devi got an online release on Amazon Prime

How Are Theaters Coping Up With The Lack of New Releases?

Due to the lack of new releases, cinema halls are showing older films like Thappad , Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan , Kedarnath , Dream Girl , etc. But the trouble is that these films are already available online for streaming. So it doesn't make sense for many people to attend theatres to watch films that they can easily watch in the comfort of their own house. All of this has made theaters difficult to sustain as they are recording terrible attendance, with some theaters even having less than 35% occupancy. 2020 is coming to an end and things appear to be on shaky grounds for movie theaters around the country.
Theaters are showing old films like Kedarnath
The only ray of hope that remains for these movie theaters is the release of big-ticket films like '83 and Sooryavanshi, that are slated to release in the last week of December. But this will only happen if people are willing to come out of their houses. Otherwise even these two films may have to settle for an OTT release.
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