Varun Dhawan’s much-hyped film Baby John seems to have hit rock bottom just days after its release. The film, which opened on 25 December with a modest Rs 11.25 crore, has seen an alarming decline in collections.
By its second day, earnings plummeted to Rs 5.13 crore, and Friday’s figures offered no respite. With weekend predictions under Rs 30 crore, exhibitors have already started pulling the plug on the movie.
Baby John Shows Replaced By Hindi Version Of Marco After Poor Response
A key exhibition source revealed to Bollywood Hungama, “The Thursday drop confirmed to theatres that the film wouldn’t sustain over the weekend. Consequently, cinemas nationwide began reducing its shows.”
Now, the Hindi version of the Malayalam hit Marco has stepped in to fill the gap. The ultra-violent film has sparked curiosity, with many viewers comparing its intensity to the recent blockbuster Animal. (calling the latter “child’s play” in comparison.)
Theatres have responded to this demand by replacing Baby John with Marco and other popular titles like Pushpa 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King.
For instance, Mumbai’s iconic G7 multiplex has significantly scaled down Baby John screenings. The film has been moved from the larger Gaiety cinema to the smaller Galaxy hall. Meanwhile, Pushpa 2 is back on Gaiety’s big screen.
Film Gets Only 4 Out Of 275 Screens In CP Berar
Adding to the debacle, PVR Inox Pictures, the film’s distributor, is facing backlash for its flawed release strategy. In the CP Berar territory—a vital region comprising parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh—Baby John has managed to secure only four out of 275 single-screen cinemas.
A trade insider commented, “This region has a strong appetite for mass-appealing films like Baby John. Ideally, it should have been allocated at least 30% of single screens. Securing less than 3% is unheard of for a big film.” Competition from AA Films, distributors of Pushpa 2, reportedly added to the challenges, with exhibitors favouring the latter over Baby John.
The film’s future looks bleak as weekday shows are expected to dwindle further. Despite its grand promotion, the film’s poor performance has left industry insiders stunned.
With its limited presence in single screens and shrinking multiplex shows, Baby John is now being seen as one of the biggest box office disasters in recent times.
(Also read: ‘Varun Action Ke Liye Bohot Soft Hai’: Baby John Gets THUMBS DOWN With ‘Poor Response’ In Public Review (Watch Video))
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