Movie Ticket Pricing Strategy: Should all movies cost the same?

Should ticket prices of all movies, irrespective of its star cast / budget / director / genre, be priced the same? For example, following are the ticket prices of a few movie releases at a PVR multiplex in Mumbai (night show gold class tickets):

  • PK – Rs 500
  • Happy New Year – Rs 450
  • Kick – Rs 450
  • Special 26 – Rs 350
  • Jai Ho – Rs 350
  • Ugly – Rs 350
  • Aankhon Dekhi – Rs 350

As you can see from the examples above, ticket prices of much-awaited festive releases like PK, Happy New Year and Kick are on the higher side – which is fair, because they are the most-awaited movies of the year featuring the biggest stars in the country. But tickets for all other films are priced the same. Which brings us to the big question – Would the audience be willing to buy the tickets of Ugly and Aankhon Dekhi at the same price as Special 26 or Jai Ho – both of which have a much bigger star cast and budget? If not, wouldn’t it make sense to keep the prices of smaller budget movies a little lower, to attract more audience and thereby increase the opening day occupancy?

Tickets of Jai Ho and Aankhon Dekhi cost the same

Multiplex tickets of Salman Khan’s Jai Ho and Rajat Kapoor’s Aankhon Dekhi cost the same! Is it fair?

We have all studied about the co-relation between price and demand. When the price increases the demand may suffer, i.e in case of movies, if the ticket prices are too high, fewer people will be inclined to go watch a film in theatre. At the same time, if tickets are priced too low, it could affect the business of a film.

Today the number of movies that release every week has increased considerably, if earlier there was one movie every week, now we see at least 2 movies releasing every week apart from all the Hollywood and regional releases. Can the audience afford to watch a movie every week or at least one movie every two weeks?

Various movies which are critically appreciated, take for instance films like Aankhon Dekhi, Zed Plus, Suleimaani Keeda do not find many takers. At the end of every year there are various films being deemed as under-performers, even though content-wise they deserved to be successful. We always grieve about films that find ‘4-star ratings’ in the tabloids, but fail to even recover their release costs.

There may be many factors related to their under-performance for instance the lack of face-value (films without stars), lack of good music or bad marketing. However, the trade continues to strongly believe that there is always a chance for a movie to pick up, as WOM (Word of Mouth) remains the most powerful marketing tool that exists. But without a decent opening, even good word-of-mouth may not be enough as exhibitors may reduce / cancel shows due to extremely poor occupancy in the opening weekend.

So what is the solution for smaller films to take a fairly good opening – so that they at least have a chance to sustain over the weekdays and finish as reasonably good grossers? We think the pricing of tickets could be the biggest culprit here and we think we have a solution to this.

There could be a certification for each and every film that releases. Just like a censor certificate, there should be a category certification to classify films into holiday / festive, non-holiday and concept / low budget films with no face value.

We divide all films in 3 categories- A, B and C.

  • A-category films stands for (A list actors – Khans, Devgans, Kumars, Roshans – Festive releases)
  • B-category films stand for (Relative newcomers or new entrants – Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Arjun Kapoor )
  • C-category films stand for (Concept films, unheard actors , content oriented, experimental cinema)

Assumptions

  • Take the case study of pricing in only one theatre for explanation. Our standard theatre will be PVR for analysis.
  • Generalised templates that should be setup for all films that would help benefit both exhibitors, distributors and as well motivate people to come to the theatres.

A-Cateogry films at PVR

These are the movies and actors that people look forward to. Most awaited movies of the year, the biggest stars the biggest attractions. These films can be further divided into

A Films festive release (For example Kick in Eid, Happy New Year in Diwali etc) our pricing analysis:

  • Morning Show – Rs 200
  • Afternoon Show – 350
  • Night Shows – 450 Normal
  • Gold seats Night shows – 550

The most premium rates are charged when an ‘A list film’ releases on a festival. People do not mind paying that extra buck since these festivals are generally a boost for families in terms of income. Also like in case of PK – Christmas and Eid – Kick, people know a Salman film or Aamir film comes once a year hence they do not mind the extra money.

A Films Non Festive release (For example Entertainment, Special 26, Jai Ho) our pricing analysis

We feel the pricing of these films should be high since they feature an A lister, however cant be premium since it’s a normal working day. Hence our suggestions taking PVR as a template

  • Morning Show- Rs 150
  • Afternoon Show- 250
  • Night Shows – 350 Normal
  • Gold seats Night shows – 400

B-Category films at PVR (Ek villain, 2 States, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania)

These are the films that we would categorise as exciting however the scaling and anticipation of these films may not be of an ‘A list’ film. Hence the ticket prices could be a little lower than films featuring A-list actors.

  • Morning Show – Rs 120
  • Afternoon Show – 200
  • Night Shows – 300 Normal
  • Gold seats Night shows – 350

However if a producer feels he needs to hike the rates for his benefit (like in the case of the budget of his film being too high, then he always can break the template, since the risk of people not paying much will also be his.)

C-Category films at PVR (Zed plus, Aankhon Dekhi, Suleimaani Keeda)

Here is the biggest challenge. These films will attract audience on the opening days only if the ticket rates are low and the content is good. While we cannot monitor content we can definitely regulate the pricing.  Take two instances to explain this situation

Instance 1

  • A theatre of 350 occupancy which has sold 80 tickets at 250 Rupees each = Revenue 20,000

Instance 2

  • A theatre of 350 occupancy which has sold 120 tickets at 150 – Revenue 18000 – But more people watching the movie hence more interaction which may lead to better WOM. Added benefits of more footfalls is more sales of food, drinks etc which will ensure higher revenue for cinema owners.

We feel ‘Instance 2’ is more beneficial to such films. Also, keeping ticket prices low for such films may encourage people to come to watch the theatres as they do not mind spending Rs 150 per ticket on experimenting but may hesitate on spending 250-300 on the same film. It may also discourage piracy as a person may now enjoy an affordable large screen experience. Economies of large scale will definitely help such films attain longevity.

  • Morning Show – Rs 75
  • Afternoon Show – 100
  • Night Shows – 200 Normal
  • Gold seats Night shows – 250

Categorise wise differentiation of films will definitely help all kinds of films to survive. It’s near foolishness to ask a consumer to pay almost the same rate for the first day first show of a Shahrukh Khan or Akshay Kumar film and a Rajat Kapoor film. There might be aspects of this that might need more research and a bit of tweaking, however, do share your thoughts on our observation and analysis.

Advertisements

66 Comments

  • I agree with Indicine that bigger films can be sold at higher ticket prices but films starring debutants,flop actors or character role actors should b sold at 30-40% lower ticket prices to ensure a more respectable opening for them so that if wom is gd they cn grow over the week.

    But I don’t agree how Indicine has put all young actors in ‘B category’ and is happy with our hits being sold at lesser ticket price than an Akki or Ajay film.

    If 2 states or Ek Villain were sold at same price as Holiday or SR then they would have surely crossed 110cr

    Anyway a good article

  • Even in case of big films the ticket prices shouldn’t be sky high.Tickets were being sold at Rs.950 at the nearby PVR for gold class in Bangalore for Pk which isn’t acceptable.Even the minimum ticket prices were around 200 for morning shows in the weekend which prevents the die hard fans of actors to watch their favorite star’s movie on the first day. As you have mentioned he ticket prices for smaller films need to be reduced if the producers want to recover their costs apart from getting rave reviews.

  • very nice article @indicine.. jai ho collected 110 cr despite less ticket price, which I considered as very good collection.. if Jai Ho ticket prices were on the same level of Kick n HNY, maybe movie would have crossed 150 cr..

    Still movie got semi hit verdict.. this is the popularity of Salman…

  • arjun kappor fan ..you cant compare akshay and devgon with your newbie stars as akshay is the one who gave 4 hits in a single year in 2008 , and devgon has 5 100 cr club and opening of 32 cr in singham returns. your new stars will never do this for many years

  • In America people is spending 3% of their income to movies per month… But in our country most of the people spending 30% of their income to movies per month…… 550 rs is very over…. 150 is crct rate… @indicine why u missed ranbir in A list category?

  • Great article Indicine..
    I think there is no need to increase ticket prices 3 times every year on eid,diwali and Xmas..

    Ticket prices should increase every year on Eid and that should carry for Diwali and Xmas too and the rules should be strict so that no actor/producer hike it more than that.

  • One of the best articles I have read on bollywood sites. Thanks indicine for giving akki and ajay the respect they deserve. it doesn’t mean they are not superstars if they allow their more famous khans and hro to take the holidays, that because they respect them.@Arjun kapoor fan please don’t compare them with your kids. They are still lead actors after 20 plus years let us how your arjun kapoor survive even for ten years in this industry.

  • Interesting article …tickets should be priced according to what it costs to show that movie, divided by how many tickets you sell, plus a profit of course.
    So for example if it costs $1,000 to run a screening of PK and you expect to get 100 people in your cinema, then $10 a ticket is break even. You need to charge more than that to make profit. However if it costs the exact same $1,000 to run a screening of a less popular movie, then you obviously need to charge way more per ticket to make a profit.
    Since people are never going to pay more to see a less popular movie, cinemas are of course left to charge the same fee across the board, with enough markup to make up for the screenings that run at a loss.

  • @Idiot sambudha: Read the article again.. These are just the suggestions to set up a pricing strategy by citing examples.It is not what has happened.
    Ticket prices of 2 states,Ek villain,Holiday,SR were all the same!!
    Plz it is enough of you to get degrade akki/ajay.
    @akkil lokhande aka ARJUN KAPOOR FAN: So once again you have started creating fake ids..you literally leave no stone unturned to bash akki!! and when that dynamic creates your fake ids then cry like hell..

  • @Arjun Kapoor Fan
    have u gone mad? Akki is established superstar of bollywood. Don’t compare akki with flop actor Arjun kapoor. Your Arjun kapoor always is a side role supporting actor.Siddharth is one of the worst expresionless actor in industry.Ajay devgan and akki are senior pros in industry.
    Tevar is a disgrace due to flop actor ARJUN and baby will be first hit of 2015.

  • I believe Ranbir should be placed in the ‘A’ category, he is a huge crowd puller already, I watched YJHD at a high end multiplex for 400 bucks, I won’t do the same for an Ajay Devgn or an Akshay Kumar film, & just like me, majority of people atleast in Cities would prefer a Ranbir movie over a Devgn/Akki movie.
    So to be precise,
    A List – KHANS, Hrithik, Ranbir.
    B List – Devgn, Akki, Saif, John, Sidharth, Ranveer, Varun etc.
    C List – other low budget movies.
    also at high end multiplexes, the night shows are much more costlier than 550 for big films.

  • Its really graet article…..but this is exploitation of customers charging 950 rs since u knw….customer want to see movie anyhow……ur analysis is best in point of view of producer. ..but as a customer it is exploitation. ..it is ethically wrong…..

  • love u all A list actors -three khans ,akshay ,ajay ,hritik, new A lister is ranbir kapoor !!! till then wait for baby, roy,bajrangi bhaijaan, faan,gabbar, tamasha,brothers,prdp etc

  • @zeeshan worry for ur fading actor srk whose fan /raees lifetime is jaaga jasoos 1st week. Don’t worry for akki.
    Akki’s 4 films look perfect and will collect more than fan/raees.

  • very good article@indicine
    this is why i like this site so much
    @ARJUN KAPOOR i think god forgot to give you mind . akshay is among the most popular and established superstar of bollywood. newcomers can never come close to him and specially your arjun kapoor , he cant even dream to get as much popularity as akshay and ajay have. his mindless masala is coming nobody is going to taste it.
    BABY is coming and will be first 100 cr hit of 2015

  • @ajinkya, SRK is a fading Star ? then Akki must be a Junior Artiste :)
    it can be seen who is delivering 200 cr. grossers & who is delivering 60 crore grossers.
    HNY’s opening 45 cr. Akki movies weekend hardly manages to touch 30 cr. :)
    infact HNY’s first day Worldwide Collection was more than the domestic lifetime of many Akki movies recently.
    Wake Me Upp when Akki evev manages to give a 25 cr. opening. LOL !

  • ….happy with our hits being sold at lesser ticket price then Akki and Ajay”

    @ArjunKapoor, what exactly do you mean ???
    Man, how come can you compare legends (Akki and Ajay) with young actors who r just two yr in Bollywood??
    forget abt ajay and Akki, u can’t even compare your youngistan with Saif and John.
    u really need to learn how to respect legends…get well soon dude.

  • @zeeshan ure srk performance is not good in movies nowdays its only hit due to high promotion and huge fans got from romantic movies like DDLJ , KKHH etc but he has not good movies nowdays, he should do romantic, sentimental type ! aamir salman akshay is in good form !!!

  • @Indicine:

    good article but does not make any sense now…there is no regulator in Bollywood nor Govt intervenes to control the price, to record the collections and the release dates.

    Why only Khans get holiday releases…why not others get fair chances…why always Salman books EID, why SRK Diwali and Aamir Christmas…..

  • @zeeshan can ure srk gave 4 hits movie in one year??? akshay kumar did it long time ago. and akshay still not in 200 cr club and srk 2 times 200 cr club!!! they both are superstars in their own way!!!

  • it doesn’t matter if they hike ticket price or not cos the real storm is coming next week.
    #tevarfirst200crforyoungistaan

  • happy new year is better than pk and kick.
    look pk and kick all are remake not new history
    watch omg akshay kumar same film pk.
    like don amitabh bachchan and don srk .
    srk is king best

  • Excellent Analysis Indicine!!! Hats off!!!

    @Asambuddha Kapoor.. First ask your youngistaan to give 4 hits in one year like Akki and then bark..

  • Given the lack of standard ticket rates, it is futile to compare box office figures. Footfalls would be the accurate parameter.

Leave a Comment