Looks like the box office in 2023 has been defined by one major aspect - Nostalgia. Franchise reboots, sequels and remakes have clearly become box office favorites for audiences. With recent theatrical success seen for Gadar 2, Barbie, Mission : Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1, The Super Marios Bros. movie, Avatar 3, OMG2 it is evident that theatre goers are loving the nostalgic vibe.
The upcoming movie trends also reiterate people's love for the familiar. The trailer of Shah Rukh Khan's next magnum opus Jawan saw SRK closing shot in the trailer dancing to a rendition of the Bollywood golden oldie - Beqarar Karke from Bees Saal Baad. The hysteria that surrounded the announcement of Don 3 with Ranveer Singh also proved India's love for nostalgia. Another incredible recent onscreen experience of nostalgia was seen with the use of many 70s Hindi film songs that were used as an unforgettable part of the narrative of Karan Johar's Rocky aur Rani ki Prem Kahani.
Taking this trend forward is Paramount Pictures who are all set to release the animated action drama - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) created by Seth Rogen. The film boasts of a solid voice over cast including names like Jackie Chan, John Cena, Paul Rudd, Post Malone among many others releasing pan India on Sept 1 in English and Hindi. A popular series especially through the 90s, TMNT has held a truly special place in the hearts of the audiences who've followed the series when they were kids.
Talking about the power of nostalgia at the BO, a trade insider reveals, "Audience movie going trends have really seen a noteworthy upswing when it comes to watching content that they feel a strong sense of familiarity with. Watching content that has a link back to something older, sometimes iconic and most often memorable is what helps build a lasting bond with audiences. Barbie, OMG2, Gadar 2 (a recent entrant into the 400 crore club) have been those BO case studies that proved the power of a story where the audience connect and sustain their connection with the characters they've been so closely attached to. The power of nostalgia was also evident with the closing sequence of the Jawan trailer, the Don 3 announcement and ofcourse the use of the old Hindi song renditions as part of Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani which stole audience hearts all the way. Releasing on Sept 1, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is expected to ride this wave in India and align with the film's international success as well. The four mutant turtles used to be action figurines favorites too for the 90s kids. So we can expect many of those fans to walk-in and relive the magic of the series."
2023 is expected to see many more reboots and sequels in the works with films like Stree 2, The Nun 2, The Exorcist : Believer all expected to rake in big moolah at the Indian BO!
