According to details released by the Multiplex Association of India, moviegoing in India has sharply declined.
In 2019, around 146 crore people watched films in theatres, but by 2024 this number fell to 86 crore, a massive 41% drop in just five years.
The reasons are familiar; many theatres are shutting down, audiences fear high prices and exploitation, and the growing impact of OTT platforms is pulling viewers away from cinemas.
In 2019, theatrical revenues were Rs 19,100 crore, and in 2024 they stood at Rs 18,748 crore, almost the same. This apparent stability exists only because ticket prices increased.
By 2025, the situation worsened further, ringing alarm bells for the industry, with audience numbers falling even more.
According to Sacnilk, total 2025 box office collections across all major languages were Rs 13,369 crore gross, significantly lower than 2024.
Here the the point to be underlined is the ticket prices in different states. Coming to the Telugu states, permissions for unusually high ticket prices have helped Telugu cinema sit at the top in terms of collections.
Films like Pushpa 2, RRR, and Baahubali 2 recorded massive box office numbers largely due to premium pricing rather than proportionate footfalls.
Tamil cinema has been unable to reach that level because the Tamil Nadu government has fixed ticket prices at nominal rates and rarely issues Government Orders allowing ticket hikes.
As a result, even big Tamil films struggle to post inflated collection figures adding to the woes of declining audience turnout.
In Karnataka, ticket pricing is largely in the hands of filmmakers and exhibitors, who raise prices based on demand.
Because of this flexibility, films like Kantara and KGF managed to climb into nationwide box office rankings with impressive collections.
On a whole, the situation is grim for film business with reducing footfalls. Ironically, even as footfalls fall, film stars continue to build new theatres, creating a clear paradox.