There is no doubt that 2024 has been a year of struggle for Bollywood in terms of delivering Box Office successes. With Box Office collections down by almost 23% compared to 2023, questions are being raised about the industry’s capabilities.
One area that has saved the Hindi film industry in general from total annihilation is that of the sequels. Most of the major hits delivered in 2024 have been sequels of well-established franchises.
With the massive collection of Pushpa 2 (Hindi) worth Rs.715.75 crores, followed by Stree 2 (Rs.627.02 Cr), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Rs.278.42 Cr), and Singham Again (Rs.268.35 Cr), sequels have contributed almost 50% of the total earnings of the Hindi BO.
The only film that managed to reach the hearts of the Hindi audience without being a sequel was ‘Kalki 2898 AD’.
Social media users have noticed this trend, and have taken to the comments to express their views. One user said, “It’s clear Bollywood audiences want engaging mass entertainers. Sequels delivered what original stories couldn’t this year.”
Another disappointed user advised Bollywood as he wrote, “Pushpa 2 shows how even a dubbed film can resonate better than big-budget Hindi originals. Bollywood needs to learn.”
Bollywood seems to be doubling down on the sequel formula, with more than 30 sequel projects already scheduled for 2025.
Hrithik’s ‘War 2’, Akshay Kumar’s ‘Housefull 5’, Ajay Devgn’s ‘Raid 2’, and Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitare Zameen Par’ are some common names sparking excitement among fans.
Bollywood needs to remember that even delivering a successful sequel is no joke, as it requires following an intricate storyline that masterfully builds on top of the earlier parts. The industry will be doomed to irrelevancy if it does not change its ways soon.
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