Whenever multiple films release at the same time, the last film to release often gets an advantage. If the last film receives positive word-of-mouth (WOM), it usually dominates the others. Conversely, if it receives negative WOM, the earlier releases take the advantage. Even when the WOM for the initial films and the last film is similar, the last film still tends to have the edge.
This Diwali, four films are releasing. Three films — Mithra Mandali, Telusu Kada, and Dude — are already in theatres. In terms of WOM and reviews, Dude is performing the best, followed by Telusu Kada and Mithra Mandali. However, even though Dude has better WOM compared to its competition, it hasn’t achieved super-hit or blockbuster-level WOM; the response so far ranges from average to decent.
K-Ramp, releasing tomorrow, has the potential to dominate the festival box office if it opens with unanimously positive WOM. If it fails, Dude and Telusu Kada will benefit instead.
Even if K Ramp receives above-average WOM, the film is likely to gain significant momentum. The genre is also a plus for the film, as the team says it is a complete entertainer. Entertainers always tend to perform well at the box office during festivals.
