The first half of 2026 marks a landmark era for Indian films by crossing ₹6,398 crore in domestic box office gross, reversing a three-year slide in theatrical footfalls, and setting an all-time mid-year record.

First half of 2026 marks landmark era for Indian films

Priyadarshan’s upcoming Hindi film is "Haiwaan," a dark, high-octane suspense thriller releasing in theaters worldwide on September 11, 2026. The film is an official Hindi adaptation of the acclaimed 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam.


'Haiwaan': Priyadarshan announces new Hindi film

Jaafar Jackson has made Hollywood history with Michael, becoming the first lead actor whose debut film crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office. The Michael Jackson biopic has become one of the biggest cinematic successes of the year, cementing Jafar's place among Hollywood's fastest-rising stars. This report also looks at other young actors who achieved extraordinary box office success early in their careers, including Tom Holland, whose Spider-Man films became global blockbusters, and Daniel Radcliffe, whose Harry Potter franchise remains one of the highest-grossing film series in history.

Jaafar Jackson makes Hollywood history | Michael becomes $1 billion debut film

Samantha Ruth Prabhu's action-comedy drama Maa Inti Bangaaram has grossed a historic ₹100 crore ($11.90 million) at the worldwide box office. It is the first solo female-led Telugu film to reach this milestone, defying initial industry skepticism to recover over 300% of its budget.


'Maa Itni Bangaaram:' Historic $11.90 Million Milestone For Samantha's New Movie

From breaking barriers to redefining storytelling, legendary women in cinema have left an enduring mark on the film industry. Their influence continues to inspire generations of actors, filmmakers, and audiences worldwide. This special feature looks at the timeless legacy, unforgettable performances, and cultural impact of iconic women who shaped the world of cinema forever.


The Enduring Legacy of Legendary Woman in Cinema 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay officially amended the state's theatre rules to allow cinemas to screen five shows per day for new film releases, removing the previous restriction of four daily screenings. 


Tamil Nadu Eases Theatre Rules For New Film Releases

The latest global box office report shows a major win for the franchise as a new Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu continues to dominate theatres worldwide. The film is drawing strong audience turnout across regions, strengthening the Star Wars universe’s theatrical pull. Meanwhile, other releases like the music biopic Michael continue to perform steadily, keeping competition alive in cinemas and highlighting a strong global entertainment recovery.


New 'Star Wars' Film Dominates Global Box Office As Mandalorian Universe Expands

A growing number of South Indian actors are choosing to stay away from Bollywood, redefining success with pan-India films. Mahesh Babu is often cited as a key example, focusing on regional cinema while gaining nationwide appeal. With big-budget projects and wider reach, South industries are no longer dependent on Mumbai, signalling a major shift in how Indian cinema is evolving.


South Stars Who Said No To Bollywood: Mahesh Babu Leads Pan-India Shift Beyond Mumbai

BAFTA Awards 2026: India shone bright at the prestigious BAFTA Awards this year. Boong, the Manipuri-language debut feature, has won in the Best Children and Family Film category. It was the sole Indian nominee at the BAFTAs this year. The announcement was made by the official BAFTA page.


Bafta Awards 2026: Stars & The Royals Gather To Celebrate The Best of Cinema

Cinemas have witnessed the arrival of an unexpected superstar, and its name is sequels. The film industries in India and Hollywood have widely embraced this age-old formula, even since the second installations of their giant franchises, have delivered some of the biggest blockbusters. Let's take a look at some of the top earning sequels. 

Sequels, the new superstars of cinema | E-Club

The Sundance Film Festival 2026 is here, highlighting diverse global stories and groundbreaking cinema. From inspiring documentaries to bold narratives, filmmakers from around the world are taking center stage. Watch to explore the must-see films, red carpet moments, and festival highlights that are shaping the future of cinema.

Sundance Film Festival 2026: Global Stories Shine on the Big Stage

India celebrated the 75th birth anniversary of Rajinikanth. Over the years, he has become more than just a cinematic icon not just for his fans in his home state, but also in India. Find out everything you need to know about the star in this episode of E-Club.

Rajinikanth over the years: Everything you need to know about the cinema icon |  E-Club

From the grand patriotic epics to more realistic and emotional stories, here's decoding how Indian cinema's depiction of war has changed over the years. 
#120Bahadur #Border #UriTheSurigcalStrike #Lakshya 


120 Bahadur, Border, Uri: The Surgical Strike: The Changing Face of Indian War Films

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has announced the launch of India’s first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Film Festival and Hackathon, taking place during IFFI's 56th edition in Goa from November 20-28, 2024. In collaboration with LTIMindtree and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the festival aims to bring together filmmakers, technologists, and innovators to explore AI-driven storytelling.


IFFI 2025 Opens With Cinema Parade In Goa: Culture, Cinema & Celebration

Discover the heartwarming story of a Brazilian man who, inspired by the beloved film Cinema Paradiso, runs a small theater that brings the magic of cinema to his community.

Meet Real-Life Cinema Paradiso | How Toto’s Story Inspired a Brazilian Man’s Theater | WION

For moviegoers in Karnataka, cinema just got cheaper. The state government has capped ticket prices at two hundred rupees, excluding taxes, across theaters. The move is aimed at making cinema more accessible for families, who often spend over a thousand rupees on a single outing. 


Will Karnataka’s ₹200 ticket cap inspire other states? 

Actor Akshay Kumar celebrated his 58th birthday on September 9 with a heartfelt note to fans. Reflecting on 34 years in the film industry, he expressed deep gratitude to those who believed in him and stood by his journey. From action hero to comedy king, Kumar’s legacy continues to inspire generations of Bollywood fans.

Akshay Kumar turns 58, marks 34 years in cinema with heartfelt post

Post-pandemic, the US box office struggles, with receipts down 25%. The battle between cinemas and streaming intensifies, as theater owners push for longer exclusivity windows. Can cinemas find the balance needed to draw audiences back? Take a look at this report to find out...

Cinemas vs Streaming: Who’s winning the post-pandemic box office battle?

A wave of nostalgia is sweeping cinemas across India and globally. Beloved films from the late 90s and early 20s, like Kaho Na Pyaar Hai and Kal Ho Na Ho, alongside Harry Potter and Shrek, are returning to the big screen. Join us on WION e-Club as we explore this trend of re-releases and delve into the magic of reliving cinematic classics.

From Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai to Harry Potter: Re-release mania hits theatres worldwide

Essential Women-Focused Films and Documentaries for Inspiration: Celebrated on March 8, Women’s Day is a moment to recognize the resilience, accomplishments, and contributions of women.

Women's Day: Movies That Honour Women's Strength | International Women's Day | WION

A Bengaluru consumer court ruled in favour of a man who sued PVR Cinemas and INOX (now merged with PVR) for wasting his time with long commercial advertisements before the film started. The court directed the cinemas to ensure the ticket time mentions the actual time the movie starts rather than the time advertisements are screened before the movie, reported Bar and Bench.
The complainant, Abhishek MR, claimed that 25 minutes of his time were wasted during a PVR cinema screening of the film Sam Bahadur&nbsp;in 2023 as he was forced to watch long commercial advertisements before the movie started.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/supreme-court-restraints-ranveer-allahbadia-others-from-sharing-any-episode-on-youtube-grants-him-interim-protection-8731446">&lsquo;Something dirty in his mind&rsquo;: Supreme Court slams Ranveer Allahbadia, but grants him protection from arrest</a>
The delay made it difficult for him to get back to work as he had planned, following which he sued PVR Cinemas, BookMyShow and INOX. However, the district consumer forum noted that BookMyShow cannot be blamed for this as it has no control over movie show timings or advertisements.
<h2>&lsquo;Time is very precious&rsquo;</h2>
&ldquo;In the new era, time is considered as money, each one's time is very precious, no one has right to gain benefit out of others time and money. 25-30 (minutes) is not less to sit idle in the theatre and watch whatever the theatre telecasts. It is very hard for busy people with tight schedule watching unnecessary advertisements. However, they make their own arrangements to get some relaxation with family. (This does) not mean that people have no other work to do,&rdquo; the consumer forum said.
The forum directed PVR to mention the actual time the movie starts on cinema tickets, which are issued to the public. It also ordered them to stop engaging in unfair trade practices and not to exhibit advertisements beyond the scheduled show times mentioned in the ticket.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-govt-allows-muslim-employees-to-leave-office-at-4-pm-during-ramzan-bjp-says-blatant-appeasement-8733128" rel="dofollow">Telangana govt allows Muslim employees to leave office at 4 pm during Ramzan, BJP calls it &lsquo;blatant appeasement&rsquo;</a>
PVR was further instructed to pay Rs 20,000 to the complainant for causing him mental agony and inconvenience and also pay an additional Rs 8,000 to cover the expenses of filing the complaint.
PVR Cinemas and Inox were also ordered to pay Rs 1 lakh for engaging in unfair trade practices, according to the February 15 order, reported Bar and Bench.
The two multiplexes defended their actions saying that theatres are legally bound to screen public service announcements (PSAs) to spread awareness about important social causes, as mandated by the government. While the consumer forum agreed with this, it noted that even the government&rsquo;s guidelines mention screening PSAs need not exceed 10 minutes.
The commission further dismissed arguments of long ads benefitting latecomers who may be held at security checks, saying that it is unfair to moviegoers who are punctual and have to watch long movie ads for this reason only.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news | Trending | The complainant, Abhishek MR, claimed that 25 minutes of his time were wasted during a PVR cinema screening of the “Sam Bahadur” in 2023 as he was forced to watch long commercial advertisements before the movie started.

A Bengaluru consumer court ruled in favour of a man who sued PVR Cinemas and INOX (now merged with PVR) for wasting his time with long commercial advertisements before the film started. The court directed the cinemas to ensure the ticket time mentions the actual time the movie starts rather than the time advertisements are screened before the movie, reported Bar and Bench. The complainant, Abhishek MR, claimed that 25 minutes of his time were wasted during a PVR cinema screening of the film Sam Bahadur in 2023 as he was forced to watch long commercial advertisements before the movie started. Also read | ‘Something dirty in his mind’: Supreme Court slams Ranveer Allahbadia, but grants him protection from arrest The delay made it difficult for him to get back to work as he had planned, following which he sued PVR Cinemas, BookMyShow and INOX. However, the district consumer forum noted that BookMyShow cannot be blamed for this as it has no control over movie show timings or advertisements. ‘Time is very precious’ “In the new era, time is considered as money, each one's time is very precious, no one has right to gain benefit out of others time and money. 25-30 (minutes) is not less to sit idle in the theatre and watch whatever the theatre telecasts. It is very hard for busy people with tight schedule watching unnecessary advertisements. However, they make their own arrangements to get some relaxation with family. (This does) not mean that people have no other work to do,” the consumer forum said. The forum directed PVR to mention the actual time the movie starts on cinema tickets, which are issued to the public. It also ordered them to stop engaging in unfair trade practices and not to exhibit advertisements beyond the scheduled show times mentioned in the ticket. Also read | Telangana govt allows Muslim employees to leave office at 4 pm during Ramzan, BJP calls it ‘blatant appeasement’ PVR was further instructed to pay Rs 20,000 to the complainant for causing him mental agony and inconvenience and also pay an additional Rs 8,000 to cover the expenses of filing the complaint. PVR Cinemas and Inox were also ordered to pay Rs 1 lakh for engaging in unfair trade practices, according to the February 15 order, reported Bar and Bench. The two multiplexes defended their actions saying that theatres are legally bound to screen public service announcements (PSAs) to spread awareness about important social causes, as mandated by the government. While the consumer forum agreed with this, it noted that even the government’s guidelines mention screening PSAs need not exceed 10 minutes. The commission further dismissed arguments of long ads benefitting latecomers who may be held at security checks, saying that it is unfair to moviegoers who are punctual and have to watch long movie ads for this reason only. (With inputs from agencies)

Bengaluru man wins consumer case against PVR for wasting time with long ads

"The Monkey King" has made a significant impact on cinema, transitioning from the pages of ancient literature to the big screen. Explore how this legendary tale influences modern filmmaking and storytelling.

The Monkey King's influence on cinema: from legendary pages to the big screen

'The Monkey King's' impact on cinema: from page to screen

If you are a Game of Thrones fan then this story is surely going to be a treat for you. Watch in for more details.

GOT Auction: A treat for 'Game Of Thrones' fans

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