It’s such a bummer that fans in the Gulf countries won’t be able to experience the action-packed excitement of ‘Fighter’ due to the ban. While fans in India are flocking to theaters today to catch the first shows, it’s disappointing that Gulf fans will miss out.
It seems like ‘Fighter’ had a bit of a drop in advance bookings just before its release. Reports say it earned around $500,000 internationally, which is decent but not as high as the estimated $100,000 from last Thursday.
It’s true that the ban in Gulf countries is impacting the advance bookings for ‘Fighter’. The Gulf markets have been significant contributors to the worldwide box office numbers for Deepika’s ‘Pathaan’ and Hrithik ‘WAR’. ‘Pathaan’ scored an impressive $15 million in the UAE, while ‘WAR’ raked in over $5 million from Gulf markets. The absence of Gulf fans is definitely affecting the numbers.
It looks like there’s been a ‘suspension’ of ‘Fighter’ in the UAE. Major theatre chains have removed booking options, and the exact reason behind the ban is undisclosed. Reports suggest that it’s due to ‘some objectionable content in the film.’ Before the suspension, it was anticipated to receive a PG 15 classification. It’s unfortunate, but let’s hope things get sorted out soon.
The ban in the Gulf region is definitely going to impact ‘Fighter’s global box office earnings. Since the film won’t be able to release there, it will have to make up for the loss in revenue by performing exceptionally well in the domestic box office. It’s a lot of pressure, but let’s hope it does great!
