New Delhi, Dec. 15 -- Bumper openings are starting to fade, as audiences-overwhelmed by content-place greater trust in word of mouth than in star power or pre-release hype.

While it was not unusual to see 18-20 Hindi films gross over Rs.10 crore on their opening day before the pandemic, the number has declined to only 13 in 2025 so far.

The silver lining, according to experts, is that the shift in moviegoers' preferences allows mid-budget films-often headlined by niche or unfamiliar faces-to grow over time and post respectable numbers, as stars no longer guarantee massive first-day openings.

Seeing the shift, studios are also not splurging on pre-release marketing.

"Openings have definitely softened. Audiences have become far more sel...