Classic films are making a big comeback in theaters, surprising everyone. While new movies struggle to find audiences, rereleased films are pulling in big bucks, proving that nostalgia sells.
Take ‘Tumbbad’, for example. It flopped in 2017, but in 2024, its rerelease earned Rs 38 crore, far more than its original run. Similarly, ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’ made Rs 26 crore in just six days after its rerelease.
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali calls this trend “golden,” arguing that cinema is timeless. Social media and word-of-mouth play a huge role, as viewers now trust old favorites over new releases starring fresh faces.
Hollywood is also getting in on the action. Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’ has returned to Indian theaters, showing that this is not just a Bollywood fad. Even classics like ‘Jab We Met’ and ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ are pulling in modern audiences.
But some see this trend as a warning sign. Experts argue that Bollywood’s creative energy is fading, with filmmakers relying on old movies instead of producing fresh stories. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh even calls it “a sign of content crisis.”
While rereleases are a safe bet financially, the industry must innovate to stay alive. For now, though, audiences seem happy reliving the past on the big screen.