Indian Theatre Chains Hold Back ‘Supergirl’ Bookings to Prioritize Akshay Kumar’s ‘Welcome To The Jungle’
A major box office standoff is unfolding in India as national theatre chains heavily prioritize the release of Akshay Kumar’s star-studded comedy Welcome To The Jungle over the Hollywood superhero flick Supergirl. While both films are scheduled to hit theatres this Friday, June 26, advanced ticket sales for Supergirl remain largely frozen across the country due to ongoing show-sharing disputes.
Industry insiders report that excitement for Welcome To The Jungle is sky-high among exhibitors. Backed by aggressive promotional demands from the Hindi film’s distributors, theatres are dedicating the vast majority of their screens to the comic caper. This has left Warner Bros. struggling to secure even modest real estate for Supergirl. The Hollywood studio has reportedly made a conservative request for just two prime-time shows in four-screen multiplexes and three prime-time shows in larger locations, but negotiations have hit a standstill.
The booking bottleneck is particularly severe in major regions. Major national multiplex chains like PVR Inox and Cinepolis have completely withheld Supergirl ticket sales across the Northern, Eastern, and Western territories. In major hubs like Pune, not a single cinema has opened bookings, while only a few independent chains and select properties in Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad have started selling tickets.
Warner Bros. is reportedly frustrated by the impasse, pointing out that they consistently supported Indian theatres with major releases during the pandemic when local filmmakers avoided cinemas. The studio remains hopeful that an amicable agreement can be reached before Friday, but time is running out to open up advance bookings for the superhero film.
