Hollywood’s Steady Rise in India

For years, Hollywood films in India have largely depended on the star power of franchises like Avengers, Fast & Furious, Mission: Impossible, and popular names such as Tom Cruise, Vin Diesel, and Robert Downey Jr. to draw in massive crowds.

However, this past weekend saw an encouraging trend for international cinema in India. Three mid-sized Hollywood releases — Ballerina, Materialists, and How to Train Your Dragon — managed to hold their own at the Indian box office without the crutch of major A-list actors making promotional visits or heavily marketed campaigns targeted at the Indian audience.Box Office Performance: A Snapshot

These are not earth-shattering numbers compared to the Avengers: Endgame and Avatar: The Way of Water benchmarks, but for films without Indian promotions, local tie-ins, or major global A-listers making their way to Indian shores, these figures indicate a solid and sustainable appetite for diverse international cinema.What’s Driving This Resilience?1. Strong Franchise Recall and IP PowerFilms like Ballerina benefit from their association with established franchises. While Ana de Armas may not be a household name in India, the John Wick brand resonates strongly with Indian action lovers. The familiarity of the universe and the promise of high-octane set pieces has proved enough to get audiences into theaters.Similarly, How to Train Your Dragon taps into a loyal fanbase cultivated over a decade.For films that are made into live-action from animation films, it is difficult for the audience to re-connect with the characters but this one did and minted Rs 10 crore in the opening weekend .

2. Genre-Based AppealAnother key factor is genre strength. Action, rom-coms, and fantasy adventures tend to perform over niche dramas or period pieces in the Indian market. Materialists, despite its relatively modest numbers, saw a near 118% jump from Friday to Saturday — an indicator of positive word-of-mouth and genre curiosity around its romantic-comedy-drama setup.Changing Audience PatternsPost-Pandemic Cinema ConsumptionThe post-pandemic moviegoer is different.

There’s now an audience segment that follows international releases keenly, even without star-driven hype. Thanks to global streaming platforms, Indian audiences are increasingly familiar with actors like Ana de Armas (from Knives Out and Blonde) and Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, The Mandalorian), even if they haven’t done conventional Bollywood-style promotions in India.OTT platforms have served as a bridge, offering viewers exposure to international stars and franchises, which in turn translates into footfalls when these titles arrive in cinemas.Rise of English-Language Literacy in Urban CentersUrban Indian audiences, particularly in the 18-34 age group, are more English-language film literate than ever before. With easier access to international content and a burgeoning cinephile culture in metros and Tier-1 cities, even moderately marketed titles can find takers. The audience is now less dependent on in-person promotions and more responsive to trailers, reviews, and social media chatter.An Opportunity for Hollywood StudiosThese trends offer valuable insight for Hollywood studios operating in India. While big-budget tentpole films will always have their place, there’s clearly room for mid-range titles to carve out their own space. What’s required is a smarter, genre-focused release strategy coupled with strong digital marketing campaigns and strategic premium format rollouts.While none of the three films this weekend shattered records, their steady, respectable performances without top-tier global A-listers making appearances in India point to an encouraging, evolving box office ecosystem.

Hollywood’s foothold in India is no longer limited to Avengers-level spectacles — mid-budget thrillers, genre-driven comedies, and fantasy franchises are quietly finding their audience.This weekend was proof that India’s multiplex audiences are ready for more — not just star power, but stories, experiences, and entertainment that resonate across language and culture. And that might be the most exciting trend for global cinema in India moving forward.