Phoenix to rise on Fri the 13th, rival releases dry up

The film version of JK Rowling’s The Order of the Phoenix will arrive in the normally overheated Mumbai market with a cool magic trick. When the film opens this Friday, it will have no serious rival to fight: the woods of Bolly and Holly have no significant threat to release this week.  

The only major movie that will open with the Potter offering is Naqaab; but the two vie for different audience groups. “The Order of the Phoenix will not have much competition at the box office,” said Devang Sampat, general manager, sales and marketing, Cinemax Cinemas. “The buzz around Harry Potter is immense and we are expecting to be sold out over the weekend.”

Friday the 13th, in effect, has become a propitious date for India’s Potter fans.  “It is one of the most eagerly awaited Hollywood films in recent times,” said Saurabh Varma, vice-president, programming and distribution, INOX Leisure Ltd.  “The film’s box-office performance is expected to be 30 per cent higher than the last Potter film.”

Trade pundits estimate the film will collect between Rs7-8 crore in ticket sales. The Goblet of Fire had collected Rs5.5 crore in 2005.