We hear almost every other film maker boasting about releasing their film in the US and it making big money. But what is the reality? Are Kannadiagas there ready to spend thousands of Rupees to watch one movie? What is the cost of releasing the film in US? How much money can a film really make? If you see the actual numbers, it is scary. Most films released in the US end up spending more money than they earn. Here is why and the list of the top earning Kannada films in the US.
Let is look at the cost of releasing the film there.
The satellite streaming service like Qube costs $75 per screen. That apart there is a digital fee of $150 per show. This is $50 per show if the shoe is before 1pm. But most prefer evening shows as more audience are expected. The theatre rent are anywhere between $250 per week to $1,100 per week. Sponsored online promotion and posters standis in theatres can set the producer back by another $1,000. Of you want to promote the film in a bigger way through the Kannada organisations in the US, it will be a minimum of $500 which can go up to $2,000.
Qube Print Cost - $75 per Print
Digital Fee - $150 per Show (After 1 PM)
- $50 Per Show (before 1 PM)
- $1100 per week (Regal)
- $950 per week (Cinemark)
- $250 Per Week (Indian Theater)
Publicity - Face book $500 Sponsored Advt
Kannada Koota Promotion $500 to $2000
Poster / Vinyl in Theaters $500
So after spending around $2,000 per screen to release the film, what will be the earning? Don't forget that from whatever ticket collections film producers get, they also have to pay rents, which is around 50 percent and also tax. What remains is much less than 50 percent of the gross. The highest grossing Kannada film till now is Rangi Tauranga followed by Kirik Party and Godhi Banana Sadarana Mykattu. Only 4 films have earned more than 1 lakh $. Buy not all of it is profit. Many other film producers have lost money despite the film earning thousands of dollars. Here is the list of top earners.
Release Date Movie Name USA Total Gross
01-08-2015 Rangitaranga 315,098.00
01-02-2017 Kirik Party 270,568.00
06-07-2017 Godhi Banna 170,863.00
13-09-2018 Sarkari Hiriya 120,000.00+
Prathamika Shale
29-03-2017 Raajakumara 69,659.00
20-05-2016 U Turn 60,117.00
30-09-2016 Dodmane Huduga 47,957.00
30-09-2016 Rajaratha 41,800.00
10-01-2017 Pushpaka Vimana 39,968.00
14-10-2016 Neer Dose 35,777.00
05-01-2018 Chamak 33,904.00
15-09-2017 Mugulu Nage 29,885.00
22-02-2017 Beautiful Manasugulu 21,338.00
29-04-2016 Chakravarthy 20,091.00
17-03-2017 Chowka 19,865.00
18-11-2016 Santhu Straight Forward 11,968.00
21-04-2017 Shuddhi 7,795.00
21-12-2017 Anjaniputra 6,815.00
06-03-2015 Mythri 5,058.00
04-11-2016 Idolle Ramayana 3,377.00
Now KGF has released with high expectations and large number of screens in the USA. Has it beaten the records? How much has it collected? What is its potential in the US? Check the next and final part of this series..
