Single-screen cinemas in India are facing a familiar problem again this Thursday. They are struggling to divide shows between three films — the holdover hits Mirzapur The Movie and Hanuman Ansh, and the latest release Haiwaan. Exhibitors say this week's deadlock is trickier than last week's.
Last week, a deadlock had already emerged over show-sharing between Mirzapur The Movie and Hanuman Ansh. Now, with Haiwaan arriving in theatres, single-screen owners have an even harder task: fitting all three films into a limited number of shows.
Why Single Screens Are Struggling With Show-Sharing
The core problem is simple. Single-screen cinemas have only a fixed number of shows per day. When two holdover films are still pulling crowds and a new release also needs screen time, something has to give.
According to a trade source, this week's deadlock is an exception. The source said there is no real fight between the films. Instead, the holdover films are doing exceptional business, which is why theatres want to keep playing them.
"There's no fight as such. The holdover films are doing exceptional business. Mirzapur The Movie had a huge weekend and continued its dream run in the weekdays. Hanuman Ansh, too, is rock-steady. Their advance for the weekend is impressive in the multiplexes. Hence, theatres want to play these two films as well as Haiwaan. But that's becoming an issue." — Trade source
Mirzapur The Movie and Hanuman Ansh Hold Strong
Both holdover films are performing well, which explains why exhibitors are reluctant to reduce their shows.
- Mirzapur The Movie had a huge opening weekend and kept its momentum going through the weekdays.
- Hanuman Ansh has been rock-steady at the box office.
- Weekend advance bookings for both films are impressive in the multiplexes.
- Haiwaan, the newest release, also needs screens — creating the three-way squeeze.
The result is a scheduling puzzle for single-screen cinemas. They want to run all three films because all three have demand. But with limited shows available, dividing them fairly is becoming an issue.
Our Take: A Good Problem for Theatres, a Headache for Exhibitors
In our view, this deadlock is not a sign of trouble — it is a sign of a healthy box office. When three films are all pulling audiences at the same time, exhibitors face a tough choice, but it is the kind of choice they would rather have than empty seats.
To put it plainly, the real pressure is on single-screen cinemas. Multiplexes have more screens and can spread shows across them. Single screens do not have that luxury. Every show given to one film is a show taken away from another.
What readers should take away is this: the Thursday deadlock is less about conflict between films and more about demand exceeding available screen time. If Mirzapur The Movie, Hanuman Ansh, and Haiwaan all continue to perform, exhibitors will keep juggling shows week after week. The winners, for now, are the films — and the audiences who have more to watch.
