Avatar: Fire And Ash hits theatres tomorrow, but many cinemas haven’t opened bookings
The most anticipated Hollywood release of the year, Avatar: Fire And Ash, arrives tomorrow, December 19. Advance bookings began on December 5, yet several cinema owners — notably single-screen and small multiplex properties — have still not started ticket sales for the opening. Industry sources tell Bollywood Hungama the hold-up is down to a clash between studio demands and local exhibitors’ programming needs.
Studio vs exhibitors: why bookings are delayed
Disney, which is releasing the film in India, reportedly asked single-screen cinemas to dedicate all shows to Avatar: Fire And Ash. For two-screen venues the studio wanted five to six shows daily. Exhibitors pushed back. Their reason: Dhurandhar, the Ranveer Singh starrer, is still drawing strong footfalls even in its third week.
“Exhibitors feel Dhurandhar will continue to bring audiences, especially on weekdays, so they prefer to split shows between the two films,” a trade source said. The exhibitors asked to divide shows more evenly, but Disney has not fully agreed. Negotiations were ongoing and a compromise was expected to be reached shortly.
Which cinemas have not opened bookings (Mumbai snapshot)
As of 8:30 am on December 18, many single-screen and smaller multiplexes in Mumbai had not begun advance sales for December 19 onwards. Names mentioned by sources include:
- Gold Cinema, Santacruz
- Chitra, Dadar
- Roxy Opera House
- Maratha Mandir
- Kasturba, Malad
- Citylight, Mahim
- INOX Nakshatra, Dadar
- MovieTime Star City
- New Excelsior
- MovieTime Dahisar
- Gold Cinema Sona, Borivali
- MovieMax, Andheri East
- MovieTime Suburbia
- PVR Le Reve
Two-screen properties where bookings were also held up include Sun City Vile Parle, Mukta A2 Cinemas Lalbaug, Topiwala Goregaon, PVR Milap Kandivali and MovieTime Malad.
Even some three- and four-screen properties are affected
Surprisingly, a few three- and four-screen complexes had not rolled out full bookings either. Examples cited are Sterling, MovieMax Mira Road, MovieMax Sion, Miraj R Mall Mulund, INOX Raghuleela Kandivali, PVR Odeon Ghatkopar, INOX Korum Mall Thane, MovieMax SM5 Kalyan and MovieMax Wonder Mall Thane.
Gaiety-Galaxy’s juggling act
Mumbai’s iconic G7 complex (Gaiety-Galaxy) presents an interesting microcosm of the clash. Advance bookings were open in four of its screens, but Galaxy and Gemini had not started booking yet. Dhurandhar will continue at Gaiety with three shows from December 19; until December 18 it was running across Gaiety and Galaxy. Whether Avatar: Fire And Ash will be accommodated in Galaxy or Gemini — or both — and whether Dhurandhar will pick up additional shows in the complex remains to be seen.
What this means for moviegoers and box office
For audiences, the immediate effect is uncertainty about show timings in smaller neighbourhood theatres. Those wanting to watch Avatar: Fire And Ash on opening day may need to rely on larger multiplex chains or online booking portals that have already listed shows. For exhibitors, the decision is a balance between guaranteed footfalls for a mega-studio spectacle and continued revenue from a homegrown hit.
The clash also sets up an intriguing early-week box-office duel: a global franchise juggernaut versus a successful Bollywood entertainer with strong word-of-mouth. How exhibitors split shows in the coming days will influence initial collections and audience choices across city and suburban cinemas.
Bottom line
The release of Avatar: Fire And Ash is a big-ticket event, but programming decisions at the ground level — especially in single- and two-screen cinemas — are still being hammered out. Movie lovers should keep checking booking platforms and theatre notices; a resolution between Disney and exhibitors is likely to settle the situation quickly and determine how the opening weekend shapes up.
