The year 2024 has proven to be a challenging one for Hollywood in India, with box office collections significantly underperforming compared to previous years post the pandemic. Despite a few standout films, the overall earnings from Hollywood releases have been disappointing, falling well short of expectations and raising concerns about the industry’s ability to maintain its stronghold in the Indian market.
This ETimes analysis will delve into the box office performance of Hollywood releases in India over the past four years, comparing their earnings, trends, and the potential impact of upcoming releases on the year’s overall success.
A Dismal Year So Far
As of 2024, Hollywood films have grossed a total of Rs 318.33 crore in nett collections and Rs 574.88 crore in gross collections in India. This is a stark contrast to the previous year, 2023, when Hollywood films raked in Rs 648.22 crore in nett collections and Rs 1043.8 crore in gross collections. The decline is even more evident when compared to 2022, a year that saw earnings of around Rs 580.04 crore net and Rs 1054.4 crore gross in India.
This year has also seen only two films crossing the Rs 100 crore mark, with the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman starrer ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ leading the way with a gross collection of Rs 166.18 crore. While the film’s success is notable, it pales in comparison to the previous years when multiple films consistently crossed the Rs 100 crore threshold. ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ grossed the second highest collection of the year, earning an estimated Rs 134.41 crore, while the children’s animated films like ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ and ‘Inside Out 2 ‘performed moderately, with gross collections of Rs 50.34 crore and Rs 37.26 crore, respectively.
The overall underperformance of Hollywood films this year has been attributed to a variety of factors, including a lack of compelling releases, competition from domestic films, and shifting audience preferences. The action and superhero genres, which has traditionally driven high revenues for Hollywood in India, saw only one major release— ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ —further contributing to the year’s lacklustre box office performance.
Hollywood Box Office Performance in India: 2021-2024
2021: A Year of Recovery
The year 2021 marked a gradual recovery for Hollywood releases in India after the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a total English net collection of Rs 258.54 crore and a gross of Rs 404.51 crore, the industry was still reeling from the aftereffects of lockdowns and cinema closures. However, the success of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ starring Tom Holland in the lead, provided a much-needed boost, with the film earning a nett collection of Rs 145.68 crore and a gross total of Rs 271 crore, making it the only Hollywood film to cross the Rs 100 crore mark that year.
Other notable releases included ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ and ‘Eternals’, though their earnings paled in comparison, with gross collections of Rs 59 crore and Rs 32.6 crore, respectively. The overall performance was underwhelming, with only one film reaching the Rs 100 crore milestone, highlighting the industry’s struggles to regain a foothold after the pandemic.
2022: The Return of the Blockbuster
Hollywood films saw a resurgence in India on 2022, driven by the release of major blockbusters. The total English net collection almost doubled to Rs 580.04 crore, with a gross of Rs 1054.4 crore. This year saw three films crossing the Rs 100 crore mark, led by James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ which dominated the box office with a staggering nett collection of Rs 210.33 crore and a gross of Rs 477.5 crore. The film’s success was linked to the enduring appeal of Cameron’s epic, especially in south markets contributing significantly to its all-India numbers.
Marvel continued its stronghold with Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen’s ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ and Chris Hemsworth’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ both performing well, earning gross collections of Rs 158.7 crore and Rs 125.75 crore, respectively. The superhero genre, particularly Marvel’s offerings, proved to be a significant driver of box office revenue, accounting for two of the three films that crossed the Rs 100 crore threshold that year.
2023: The Nolan and Cruise Effect
2023 was a year when big names and established franchises took centre stage, pushing Hollywood’s box office collections to impressive heights. The total English net collection for the year reached Rs 648.22 crore, with a gross of Rs 1043.8 crore. Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ emerged as the highest-grossing Hollywood film in India, with an English nett collection of Rs 118.62 crore and a gross total of Rs 157.5 crore. The film’s success highlighted Nolan’s strong fanbase in India and the continued appeal of historical and biographical narratives. Interestingly, India was one of the few markets where ‘Oppenheimer’ beat Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s ‘Barbie’ at the box office.
Tom Cruise, another hot favourite in India, led ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ to perform admirably, grossing Rs 131.7 crore, while Vin Diesel’s ‘Fast X’ cranked up the engines to zoom to a gross finish of Rs 131.5 crore. When ‘Barbie’ fever gripped the world, Indians also put on their brightest pink and headed to theatres to push the film to an impressive collection of Rs 46.43 crore. The year once again saw three films crossing the Rs 100 crore mark, with a mix of genres from action to biopics to family-friendly content, demonstrating the varied tastes of Indian audiences.
2024: A Struggling Year with a Few Bright Sparks
Although 2024 looked promising, the performance of Hollywood releases has been rather underwhelming, with the total English nett collection dropping significantly to just Rs 318.33 crore in eight months. The all-India gross collections didn’t seem to make much of a difference with collections estimated at Rs 574.88 crore. Despite the higher number of film releases this year, only two films have managed to cross the Rs 100 crore mark, with ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ leading the charge. The superhero film, which combined the star power of Reynolds and Jackman, earned a nett collection of Rs 69.82 crore and a gross of Rs 166.18 crore, making it the highest-earning Hollywood release of the year so far.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ followed in second place with a gross collection of Rs 134.41 crore, while animated kiddie films like ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ and ‘Inside Out 2’ performed decently but failed to make a significant impact, with gross collections of Rs 50.34 crore and Rs 37.26 crore, respectively. The sci-fi epic ‘Dune: Part 2’ closed out the top five, with a gross collection of Rs 36.02 crore.
Ranking English Films At The Indian Box Office in 2024
The Indian box office in 2024 has seen a diverse array of films from various regional industries, each contributing significantly to the overall revenue. Among them, English-language films, primarily Hollywood releases, have made a notable impact despite facing stiff competition from domestic cinema. This report analyses the performance and ranking of English films within the broader Indian box office landscape for 2024.
In 2024, English films grossed a total of Rs 318.33 Cr across 78 releases. This ranks English films below major regional industries like Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam but above Kannada and Marathi cinema in terms of total net collections. Despite being fewer in number, these films have managed to secure a significant portion of the market, indicating the continued popularity of Hollywood releases in India.
The English-language films’ collective contribution represents 6% of the current total Indian box office net collections Rs 5,308.88 crore. This percentage indicates a stable but modest share in a market dominated by Hindi and regional language films, which continue to capture the majority of the audience.
Comparison Of Box Office Performances Post-Pandemic
Over the past four years, Hollywood’s performance in India has seen significant fluctuations. The industry’s recovery in 2021 was slow, however, 2022 and 2023 witnessed a resurgence, driven by blockbuster releases and the continued popularity of the superhero genre, particularly Marvel films. Each of these years saw at least three films crossing the Rs 100 crore milestone, contributing to strong overall box office numbers that pushed earnings past the Rs 1000 crore mark.
In contrast, 2024 has been a challenge, with a sharp decline in collections and fewer high-performing films. The total English net collection has dropped significantly, indicating a potential fatigue or shift in audience preferences.
The Pressure is On: Upcoming Releases Carry the Weight of Hollywood’s Success in India
With the year entering its fourth quarter and the box office collections falling far short of the Rs 1000 crore mark, all hope now rests on the upcoming slate of Hollywood releases to salvage the year. Films like ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’, ‘Joker 2’, ‘Gladiator 2’, ‘Kraven the Hunter’, ‘Venom: The Last Dance’, and the children’s animated movie ‘Moana 2’ are anticipated to play a critical role in turning the tide.
Mufasa: The Lion King – Official Hindi Trailer
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ is expected to be a major draw at the box office, particularly with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan voicing the Hindi dubbed version along with his sons Aryan Khan and AbRam Khan. The 2019 remake of ‘The Lion King’ was a massive success in India, grossing Rs 187 crore. There is a strong expectation that the upcoming prequel will replicate or even surpass this performance, drawing in large family audiences during its festive Christmas release on December 20.
Joker: Folie A Deux – Official Trailer
‘Joker 2’, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, is another highly anticipated release. The original ‘Joker’ film, released in 2019, was a surprise hit in India, grossing Rs 67.95 crore. Given the massive fan following for Phoenix’s portrayal of the iconic character and the addition of Lady Gaga, the sequel is poised to attract significant attention, potentially outperforming its predecessor. The film will reportedly pick up where it left off 5 years ago and take the audience back to Gotham city’s Arkham Asylum to witness the completion of the Joker’s story. Director Todd Philips confirmed last week that his ‘Joker’ franchise will not have a third instalment.
Gladiator II – Official Trailer
‘Gladiator 2’ is also expected to contribute significantly to Hollywood’s year-end box office tally. The Ridley Scott directorial, a sequel to the Oscar-winning 2000 film, has generated considerable buzz, and its epic scale and historical narrative are likely to resonate with Indian audiences.
Kraven: The Hunter – Official Trailer
Meanwhile, ‘Kraven the Hunter’, an iconic ‘Spider-Man’ villain, will tap into the ever-popular superhero genre, which has a proven track record in India. The R-rated anti-hero film will also have help from ‘Venom: The Last Dance’. The Tom Hardy action film has consistently managed to draw in crowds and make it to the Top 10 highest-grosses in India.
Moana 2 – Official Trailer
At a time when several R-rated movies are lining up for release, ‘Moana 2′ is expected to cater to the younger segments of the audience and provide a family-friendly weekend at the box office. It will be a long wait till November 27 to see if Moana has what it takes to beat other animated films like ‘Inside Out 2’, ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ and ‘Despicable Me 4’ to become one of the highest-earning films of the year.
Can Hollywood Cross the Rs 1000 Crore Mark in 2024?
The underperformance of Hollywood films at the Indian box office in 2024 has created immense pressure on the remaining releases of the year. With the box office collections lagging behind those of previous years, the success of the upcoming big-ticket releases is crucial in determining whether Hollywood films can be consistent and hit the Rs 1000 crore mark once again this year.
English films, while not leading the Indian box office in 2024, have maintained a significant presence, securing the 5th position among all languages in terms of net collections. The Rs 318.33 Cr generated from 78 releases highlights the continued interest of Indian audiences in Hollywood cinema, despite the dominance of regional films.
While these films have potential, the stakes are incredibly high. If these upcoming films can capture the imagination of Indian audiences and deliver strong performances, they might just turn the tide on what has been a disappointing year into a memorable one for the Indian audience. With big names and beloved franchises on the horizon, the next few months will be critical in determining the overall success of Hollywood’s 2024 slate in the Indian market and its contribution to the overall box office numbers.
