Percentage of citizens likely to visit cinemas increased by 150%: LocalCircles survey

• One in three people are planning to watch a movie in the cinema hall or multiplex in the next 60 days.
  
• 26% of respondents had been to a cinema hall or multiplex in the last 60 days i.e. the months of November and December.
  
• 17% of the respondents indicated that they no longer watch movies in multiplexes or cinema halls.
  

With Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pathaan recording advance bookings of over 3 lakh tickets, the cinema theaters look ready to declare housefull shows again. And, it might just be the start of better times. As per a survey conducted by LocalCircles, 34% of the respondents (one in three people) are planning to watch a movie in the cinema hall or multiplex in the next 60 days.

LocalCircles, which has regularly conducted the ‘Citizen pulse on Cinema Halls’ survey since October 2020 to understand expected footfalls during the pandemic and thereafter, reported that the percentage of citizens likely to visit a cinema hall/ multiplex has increased by 150% in the last year.

There has also been an increase from December 2021 in the number of people planning to visit the cinemas at least once, and those planning to visit the cinemas multiple times.

“The data comparison shows that as against 2% of respondents who indicated plans to go multiple times in December 2021, the percentage has risen to 6%. In the next category of those planning to visit once, the difference is much bigger at 28% in Jan 2023 as against 12% in December 2021,” added LocalCircles.

However, the survey results also revealed that only 26% of respondents had been to a cinema hall or multiplex in the last 60 days i.e. the months of November and December.

Can 2023 take forward the 2022 momentum?

While a rise in cinema attendance bodes well for the entertainment industry, OTT platforms have become the preferred medium for many.

In the LocalCircles survey, 17% indicated that they no longer watch movies in multiplexes or cinema halls.

Despite stiff competition from OTT, cinema halls started gaining momentum in 2022, recording a gross box-office collection of ₹10,637 crore, according to a GroupM-Ormax Media report. This was next only to ₹10,948 crore collection recorded in the pre-pandemic 2019.

“With the release of Pathaan this week, 2023 is off to a great start too, auguring well for a medium that was impacted the most by the pandemic, but has managed to bounce back in no time at all,” said Shailesh Kapoor, founder & CEO, Ormax Media, in a press release.

Considering the releases slated for 2023, like Mani Ratnam’s PS-2, Alia Bhatt’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, and Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunkee and Jawan, 2023 appears set to revive not just cinema but perhaps, even Bollywood.

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