PremiumAs Tovino Thomas' 2018 prepares for early OTT release, Kerala box office takes a hit
The ticket sales of 2018 have declined significantly in Kerala as the movie is getting ready for its digital premiere soon.
Last Updated: 03.02 PM, Jun 01, 2023
The highly-acclaimed Malayalam movie 2018 is all set to release on SonyLIV on June 7 . However, this early digital release has resulted in a significant drop in footfall across cinemas in Kerala.
2018 had been enjoying tremendous success and set new records in the Malayalam film industry. Starring Tovino Thomas in the lead role, the movie had become the highest-earning Malayalam film ever. The movie also caught the imagination of the movie buffs from across the country. Outside Kerala, the disaster movie found a lot of takers in Karnataka, the Telugu states and Tamil Nadu.
However, the announcement of the film's release on SonyLIV in the first week of June has slowed down the movie's theatrical performance in Kerala. The movie had been generating considerable excitement among the audience, and its success had been contributing to the overall growth of the Kerala box office.
"One of the leading contributors (gross collection) of #2018Movie Trivandrum @ariesplex reported a drastic drop in the collection after the OTT announcement.!! 4th Sunday - 66% Monday - 32% Tuesday - 26% Wednesday (Today) - 17% A few other exhibitors have also reported the same. Even though makers are earning good money through OTT deals, the early OTT release is badly affecting theatre biz..!," wrote Malayalam film industry tracker AB George.
According to trade reports, 2018 so far has amassed more than a staggering Rs 160 crore in worldwide ticket sales, with over Rs 80 crore earned in Kerala alone. The film's total collection across the country stands at Rs 14 crore. If the movie had continued its strong performance, it could have become the first Malayalam film to cross the Rs 100 crore mark in India alone.
2018, inspired by true events that unfolded across Kerala, tells the state's resilience in the face of one of the most devastating natural calamities in a century. Directed and written by Jude Anthany Joseph, the movie boasts an ensemble cast including Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aparna Balamurali, Kalaiyarasan, Narain, Lal, Indrans, and Aju Varghese.