Will Ticket Prices Affect Sankranthi Movie Success?

There is ongoing debate about the decline in footfalls at movie theaters. Producers are worried as family audiences seem reluctant to visit theaters leaving seats empty. One major reason cited is the high ticket prices, making it unaffordable for families to watch movies together. Many now prefer waiting for films to release on OTT platforms. However another group argues that a good movie will draw crowds regardless of ticket prices. This Sankranthi's movie releases might shed light on which argument holds true.

Three movies are set to release this Sankranthi, each carrying significant buzz. Typically when big films are released governments allow ticket price hikes. In Andhra Pradesh (AP) higher ticket rates have been approved, while in Telangana, the hikes are minimal and have even been reduced in some cases. Movies like Daaku Maharaj and Sankranthiki Vastutanam have kept ticket prices reasonable in Telangana making them more affordable for middle-class audiences compared to blockbuster films like Kalki, Devara and Pushpa 2.

This raises a key question: Will the reduced ticket rates boost footfalls? Will families return to theaters? If audiences in Telangana are higher than in AP despite the same quality of movies, it may indicate that ticket prices play a crucial role. However, if the pattern remains the same in both states, it would suggest that ticket prices are less influential.

The movie Game Changer faces unique challenges in Telangana due to ticket pricing restrictions. Being a high-budget film, its producers aimed for higher ticket prices to recover costs quickly. However, despite persistent efforts, they failed to secure government approval for increased rates or a special late-night show. This restriction could significantly impact the film’s first-week collections, showing how ticket pricing policies affect big-budget movies.

As these Sankranthi releases hit theaters, they will provide a clearer understanding of how ticket pricing influences audience behavior and the overall success of films.