India’s theatrical market is heading towards a first: a cumulative all-India box office above Rs 15,000 crore. Ashish Misra, Head of Commercialisation at Cinepolis India, said in an interview that 2026 could clear that mark, after all-language gross rose from Rs 11,833 crore in 2024 to Rs 13,395 crore in 2025.
That requires roughly another 12% growth over 2025 — steep, but not out of reach given the current slate. For media planners and entertainment marketers, the more important detail is that the base is widening: success is coming from small and medium-budget films as well as tentpoles. “It will probably be the first time that the box office in India crosses the Rs 15,000 crores mark,” Misra said.
International films take a bigger slice
Hollywood has recovered from the production delays caused by the 2023 strikes. By the end of July, international films had grossed Rs 1,424 crore in India, putting the year close to the all-time annual record of Rs 1,595 crore set in 2019. Through August, international cinema commanded a 15% share of the Indian box office, up from 10% in 2025.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the highest-grossing international film ever in India. Misra said horror has historically been a reliable Hollywood genre in the market — pointing to The Conjuring universe and the Evil Dead series — and the positive global word of mouth for Obsession translated into Indian box office. Michael and Project Hail Mary also contributed.
December is a programming stress test
Four anticipated films are set to release around the same time: Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, Jumanji: Open World and Shah Rukh Khan’s King. Cinepolis’s approach is to let audience demand determine show counts. Misra cited Toxic and Hanuman Ansh, where Cinepolis adjusted programming as demand shifted rather than locking in early assumptions.
The crowded schedule is good news for exhibition if demand holds, but it also forces chains to decide fast which titles to expand or trim. Daily occupancy and advance-booking data become more valuable than pre-release hype.
Ramayana as a wide-reach swing factor
Misra said Ramayana is mounted on a massive scale and “has the potential to become the biggest film the Indian film industry has ever seen.” He added that the film could take Indian culture and heritage to audiences across the world.
Even after a record run of international films, a local event like Ramayana can change the mix. Screen allocation in the next quarter should be treated as a live decision, not a fixed schedule.
The numbers at a glance
- 2024 all-India gross: Rs 11,833 crore.
- 2025 all-India gross: Rs 13,395 crore.
- 2026 projection from Cinepolis: Rs 15,000 crore-plus.
- International films by end-July 2026: Rs 1,424 crore; 2019 record: Rs 1,595 crore.
- International share: 15% in August 2026, up from 10% in 2025.
For exhibitors and media planners, the takeaway is to track whether the broad base — mid-budget films, international titles and local tentpoles — keeps holding through the competitive December window. The first Rs 15,000-crore year is now a realistic planning scenario, not a stretch target.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com
