Latest news with #Cinepolis


Pink Villa
6 hours ago
- Business
- Pink Villa
Housefull 5 Box Office Preview: Akshay Kumar starrer run time, screen count, advance booking & opening day
Akshay Kumar is returning to the box office on June 6 with the Sajid Nadiadwala produced Housefull 5. The comic caper is the first franchise in India to hit number 5, and is releasing with a lot of anticipation, which the makers have attempted to spike with the strategy of releasing the same film with two different climaxes all across the country. Housefull 5 (A & B) has been certified U/A by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with an approved run time of 2 hours and 45 minutes. Housefull 5 is seeing an All India release by Pen Marudhar, and the distributor is going wide with the showcasing, giving the film a release on over 5000 screens all across the country. This makes Housefull 5 the biggest release till date for Akshay Kumar, and the shows at the moment are split 60:40 in the favour of Housefull 5A: Housefull 5B. The film is led by Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh with Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri and Sonam Bajwa among others. The advances for Housefull 5 opened on Saturday evening, and the response in the chains is just about average, though the hope is on the film to gain momentum from Wednesday evening, leading to the final day of sales. As on Wednesday at 3.30 PM, Housefull 5 has sold approximately 27,500 ticket s in the top 3 national chains, PVRInox and Cinepolis. The film will be looking to close the day with pre-sales of 40,000 tickets, leaving a lot to be done on the final day. The closest comparison one can draw is with Raid 2 (Labour Day), whose pre-sales stood at 33,000 tickets on Wednesday morning for a Thursday release, and the final sale closed at 93,000 tickets. Housefull 5 is expected to be around the 42,000-ticket mark on Thursday morning, and the hope is on the film to showcase a better movement on the final day and clock a final pre-sale around the 1,25,000-ticket mark. The pricing of Housefull 5 is a lot higher than Raid 2, and a final advance in the north of 1,15,000 ticket mark will keep it in the race to be in the range of Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore on day one. Though one must note that HF is a much bigger franchise than Raid, and hence, better performance is the least that one can expect. Miraj on the other hand has sold approx. 2500 tickets for Housefull 5 at the same time, whereas the presales at MovieMax and Rajhans stands at 1200 tickets and 1500 tickets respectively. The advances outside of PVRInox and Cinepolis are better, but there's still a long way to go and the film will be looking to gain momentum in the last 36 hours. The biggest plus for Housefull 5 rests in the advances for Saturday and Sunday in the chains, which means that if the reports come in favour, the film will definitely see a big surge in collections. In the national chains, the Akshay Kumar starrer has sold 16,000 tickets for Saturday (Bakri Eid) and 12,000 tickets for Sunday and this should see a bigger surge on Friday, if the reports of 'entertaining content' come into play. The things at the moment are not so impressive, but there is a hope for a franchise comedy as big as Housefull 5 to pick up the pace in pre-sales and reach a number on the first day, that lays the platform for the film to pose a good result over the 3-day weekend. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates!


Pink Villa
10 hours ago
- Business
- Pink Villa
Housefull 5 India Advance Booking Update: Akshay Kumar's killer-comedy sells 25000 tickets in top chains with 1 and a half day to go
The much-awaited Housefull 5, starring Akshay Kumar, is gearing up for its big release on June 6, 2025. With just a day and a half left, advance bookings in India's top national chains, PVRInox and Cinepolis, are moving at a strictly average pace. As of 12 noon on June 4, the film has sold 25,000 tickets in PIC. The film needs a strong push in the final days to hit a respectable opening day. The target for Housefull 5 is to sell 125,000 tickets in PVRInox and Cinepolis before release. This would help the film cross Rs 20 crore on its opening day. However, even Rs 20 crore isn't a great number for a film of this scale. The Housefull franchise is known for its massive star cast, high production values, and chartbuster music. A film this big is expected to open much stronger. The team will be hoping for a big surge in bookings over the next 36 hours to build momentum. The good news comes from international markets. Advance bookings overseas are showing a lot of promise. Early trends suggest Housefull 5 could become Akshay Kumar's biggest opener abroad. Fans in markets like the US, UK, Oceania and Gulf are showing excitement for the comedy franchise. For Housefull 5 to be called a hit, it needs to gross over Rs 325 crore worldwide. At Rs 275 crore, the film will just about recover its investment, making it safe for the producers. The Housefull franchise has a perfect track record, with all four previous films being hits. The pressure is on Housefull 5 to keep this streak alive. The comedy genre relies heavily on strong word-of-mouth and a big opening weekend. The film's star power, including Akshay Kumar and a talented ensemble cast, is a major draw. However, audiences today are choosy, and the film needs to deliver laughs and entertainment to pull crowds. The next day and a half will be crucial. A last-minute rush in bookings could change the game for Housefull 5. Can Housefull 5 live up to its legacy and keep the franchise's hit record intact? We shall find that out soon. Have you booked your tickets for this killer-comedy? If yes, which Housefull 5 do you plan on watching? A or B?


Pink Villa
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Thug Life (Hindi) Advance Booking: Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam starrer aims to open at Rs 1 crore in North India
Kamal Haasan's Thug Life, directed by the legendary Mani Ratnam, is all set to hit theaters on June 5, 2025, and the advance booking numbers for the Hindi version have started to come in. As of 12 noon on June 3, 2025, the film has sold 625 tickets for its opening day in top national chains like PVRInox and Cinepolis. PVRInox accounts for 425 tickets, while Cinepolis has clocked 200 tickets for the Hindi version. The pace of bookings in Hindi is slower than expected, with projections suggesting the film might net just Rs 1 crore on its opening day in the Hindi belt. While this is modest for a film of this scale, there's still hope for a turnaround, especially if word of mouth is strong. Unlike Tamil blockbusters like Leo and Jailer, which skipped top chains due to disagreements over an 8-week theatrical-to-digital window, Thug Life has secured a wide release across major multiplexes like PVRInox and Cinepolis. This ensures the film reaches its target audience, that is the fans of gritty crime thrillers, despite clashing with Bollywood's big comedy-suspense film Housefull 5, starring Akshay Kumar, set to release on June 6. While Housefull 5 is the first choice for Hindi audiences seeking a lighthearted laugh riot, Thug Life has enough screens to attract viewers who prefer intense, action-packed dramas. The star-studded cast, including SilambarasanTR, Trisha Krishnan, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, along with A.R. Rahman's music, adds to its appeal. In Tamil Nadu, the pre-sales are decent, with advance bookings clocking Rs 4 crore, aligning with recent Tamil mid-sizers like Retro and Amaran at the same stage. The numbers haven't reached the heights of Kamal Haasan's Vikram. The film's global opening is projected to be slightly below Indian 2, but with positive word of mouth, Thug Life could comfortably surpass the lifetime collections of Indian 2 in the long run. The slow Hindi bookings might be due to the clash with Housefull 5 and the niche appeal of a gritty gangster saga in a market leaning toward mass entertainers. With its release in multiple Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, Thug Life is poised for a wide reach. The key lies in delivering a compelling cinematic experience to convert its decent pre-sales into a box-office success. Will Thug Life live up to the hype and outshine its competition? We shall find that out in just 2 days. How excited are you for Thug Life? Have you booked your tickets for the film yet?


Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Daniel Craig's Queer to open Kashish film festival's 16th edition tomorrow
Powered by actor Daniel Craig, Luca Guadagnino-directed Queer will open the 16th edition of Kashish Pride Film Festival, Mumbai's annual LGBTQ+ film festival, on June 4. The festival, which boasts of being 'diverse and inclusive with representation of the complete LGBTQ+ spectrum', will roll out an impressive line-up of 152 films from 48 countries. 'Earlier, we used to have lesbian, gay or transgender movies. Now, the other members of the spectrum, including non-binary and intersex people are making movies. So, the festival is more inclusive now,' says Sridhar Rangayan, the festival's founder director. Its closing film, 'Close To You', features transgender actor Elliot Page in the lead. The festival's opening ceremony will be held at Bandra's St Andrews Auditorium while the screenings will be held at Cinepolis, Andheri West, from June 4-8. It will also hold screenings at Alliance Francaise, Marine Lines, from June 5 to 8. Some of the major films selected for the festival include Shyam Benegal's 'Mandi', Onir's 'We Are Faheem & Karun', Dutch film 'Out' and 'Odd Fish', which is set in an Icelandic township. Director Deborah Alice Craig's 'Sally!', Mikko Mäkelä's 'Sebastian', Emanuel Parvu's 'Three Kilometers to the End of the World', Patricia Ryczko's 'Reset', and Marcelo Caetano's Baby are the other top picks. 'As the festival turns 16, the programming has become more dynamic. A number of films talk about queer parents and parenting challenges. We also have South Asian countries, such as Myanmar and Bhutan, participating this year,' says Saagar Gupta, the festival's artistic director. While holding the festival for 16 years has been a fulfilling experience, the team has also been dealing with several challenges. 'Across the world, it has become financially challenging to hold a film festival. Donald Trump's anti-LGBTQ+ stand and the UK's trans-phobic policies have made it even more difficult for us. We are supported by the diversity and inclusion budget of corporate companies in India. It's becoming tough to access that,' says Rangayan. Recounting the journey of Kashish, Rangayan shares that in April 2010, its inaugural edition was held at PVR, Juhu, with the aim of creating a 'mainstream space' where the members of queer community as well as their allies could mingle. 'During the pre-Kashish period, we had held screenings of queer films at National College, Bandra, and British Council or Alliance Française. The 2009 Delhi High Court verdict (which decriminalised homosexual acts), gave us the impetus to organise a festival that's more mainstream in nature,' he recalls and adds that it is the first Indian LGBTQ+ festival to be held with approval by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry. Apart from creating a mainstream feel, the festival's aim has been to provide a big-screen experience to delegates as well as make sure they enjoy watching queer movies with their partners, friends and family without 'a sense of shame or guilt', says Rangayan. The festival moved Liberty Cinema in 2014 to accommodate a large number of delegates. This year, the first phase of the festival is being held at Cinepolis and Rangayan hopes it will draw youngsters to the screenings there. The festival schedule and other details can be found at


Pink Villa
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Housefull 5 India Advance Booking Update: Akshay Kumar's comic caper sells 18000 tickets in top chains with 2 and a half days to go
The excitement for Housefull 5 is heating up as the film gears up for its grand release on June 6, 2025. With just two days and 13 hours left for advance bookings to wrap up, the comedy-suspense film, set on an exotic cruise, has sold 18,000 tickets in India's top multiplex chains, PVRInox and Cinepolis, as of 11 AM on June 3. This is a decent start for the Akshay Kumar starrer, but the road ahead is crucial for the film to hit its box office targets. The aim for Housefull 5 is to sell around 1,25,000 tickets in these national chains by Thursday night. If the film hits this mark, it could score an opening day collection of over Rs 20 crore net in India. A Rs 20 crore start would be a solid result, giving the movie room to grow over the weekend, especially with a holiday on Saturday. However, an opening of Rs 25 crore or more would be a game-changer. Going by the current pace of advance bookings, reaching Rs 25 crore seems like a tough climb, but not impossible. The film's massive release across 5000 screens in India ensures it's accessible to audiences in cities and smaller towns alike, which could boost walk-in numbers if the buzz picks up. What's adding to the excitement is the film's unique release strategy. Housefull 5 is hitting theaters in two versions. Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B are two versions of the movie and each version has a different climax and killer in its murder-mystery plot. This bold move has sparked curiosity among fans, with social media buzzing about which version will steal the show. The dual-version strategy, a first in Indian cinema, could drive more audiences to theaters to experience both endings. While the advance bookings in India are steady but not explosive, the international markets are painting a brighter picture. Housefull 5 is tracking strongly overseas, with pre-sales pointing to a massive USD 5 million opening weekend. This could make it Akshay Kumar's biggest overseas opener ever. Markets like Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE are showing strong demand, with the Eid festival expected to drive huge footfalls in the Gulf. The international hype is a good sign, and if India catches up, Housefull 5 could be a global winner. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani and backed by Sajid Nadiadwala, Housefull 5 boasts a stellar cast, including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Jacqueline Fernandez, among others. The franchise's loyal fanbase and Akshay's star power are key factors, but the film's success will hinge on word of mouth. With its wide release and festive timing, Housefull 5 has all the ingredients for a big weekend.