9 Interesting Facts Why Movies Release on Friday

Have you ever noticed why most of the Hollywood or Indian movies release on Friday?

Gone with the Wind was the first Hollywood moviw released on Friday, on Dec 15 1939 and the trend to release moview on Friday started.

The trend was caught up in India with the release of Mughl-e-Azm on Friday. The moie was released on 5 August 1960.

The release date of a movie is a crucial decision for filmmakers and studios. It can have a significant impact on the film’s box office performance, critical reception, and overall success.

In India and the United States, typically movies release on Friday. This is not a coincidence. There are a number of reasons why Friday is the preferred day for movie releases.

Movies release on Fridays in Hollywood and the Indian film industry due to higher audience turnout, marketing opportunities, and the association of Fridays with leisure and fun. Friday releases maximize box office revenue, align with the practice of sharing profit and loss, and take advantage of the psychological impact and social nature of the day.

In this article, we have explained 9 interesting facts explaining why movies release on Friday.

Historical Reasons Why Movies Release on Friday

The tradition of releasing new films on Fridays originated in Hollywood, USA, in 1939 with the release of the renowned film Gone with the Wind.

You can watch the treiler of the film below:

At that time, Fridays were significant because they coincided with the weekly payday in the US, and families often visited cinemas during the weekend.

India adopted this practice of Friday releases from Hollywood, as it didn’t have a specific day for new film releases.

One of the earliest Indian films to follow this trend was K Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam, released on Friday, August 5, 1960. Subsequently, regional films in India also began releasing on Fridays.

You can watch the trialer of the movie below:

Friday as Auspecious Day in India

During the period of 1940-1960, the film industry in India was significantly shaped by Urdu lyricists, story writers, Muslim musicians, directors, and actors. For them, Friday held religious significance and was considered an auspicious day, leading to its preference as a favorable day for movie releases.

Additionally, in the Hindi film industry, which was predominantly supported by wealthy North Indian businessmen, Friday also held importance in Hindu beliefs. It is considered the day of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity associated with wealth and prosperity.

The producers believed that movies release on Friday would appease Lakshmi Mata, leading to monetary success and prosperity. Thus, the combined influence of Muslim and Hindu beliefs contributed to the tradition of releasing movies on Fridays in India.

In the past, there was a trend of lower screening fees, especially on Fridays, as it is considered auspicious for both Hindus and Muslims. However, it is important to note that this practice is no longer applicable in modern times.

Influence of Weekend Audience

Friday is considered the best day of the week for many people as it marks the end of the workweek and brings a sense of relief and happiness. This positive mood and anticipation make it an ideal time to attract audiences to movie theaters.

Additionally, movies release on Friday allow for a full weekend of screenings, maximizing the potential box office revenue. With more people having leisure time and making plans for the weekend, Friday releases provide a greater opportunity for movies to draw in larger crowds and achieve successful opening collections.

Banks and Flow of Money

One of the reasons why movies are released on Fridays is the historical practice of sharing profit and loss each day between producers and distributors.

The cash movement of a film would be determined by its performance on the first day, making it crucial for financial purposes. Releasing movies on Fridays was advantageous because banks were open, allowing for convenient cash transactions and financial settlements.

In contrast, Saturdays were half-days for banks, and Sundays were non-working days, making it more challenging to handle the financial aspects of a film’s release.

Therefore, movies release on Friday ensure smoother financial operations and facilitated timely transactions with the support of accessible banking services.

Marketing Strategies

Studios also prefer to release movies on Fridays because it gives them more time to market the film. On Fridays, the film can be promoted throughout the weekend, which can help to generate xcitement and anticipation among audiences.

Psychological Impact

The day of the week can also have a psychological impact on moviegoers. Fridays are often associated with fun and relaxation, which can make people more likely to want to see a movie.

A study by the University of Chicago found that people are more likely to make impulsive decisions on Fridays. This is because they are feeling more relaxed and less inhibited.

As a result, they may be more likely to decide to see a movie on a Friday, even if they had not originally planned to do so.

Audience Behavior

In addition to the psychological impact, the day of the week can also affect audience behavior. For example, people are more likely to go to the movies on Fridays with friends or family.

This is because Fridays are often seen as a social day, and people are more likely to be in the mood to go out and do something fun. Hence movies release on Friday will attract more audiences resulting in huge box office collection.

Word-of-Mouth

Word-of-mouth is also an important factor in a movie’s success. If a movie is good, people will talk about it and encourage their friends to see it. This can help to generate a lot of buzz for a film, which can lead to higher box office numbers in the weekend.

Friday is a good day for word-of-mouth to spread because people are more likely to be talking about movies on weekends. They are also more likely to be free to see a movie on weekends, which means that they are more likely to act on the word-of-mouth they hear.

Public Expectations

Finally, studios also consider public expectations when choosing a release date. If a movie is highly anticipated, studios may prefer to release it on a Friday, when there is more opportunity for the film to meet or exceed expectations.

This was the case with the movie “The Avengers: Endgame.” The film was one of the most anticipated movies of all time, and it was released on 26 April 2019, which was Friday. The film went on to break box office records, grossing $2.503 billion worldwide.

Conclusion

Predominantly movies release on Fridays in both Hollywood and the Indian film industry due to reasons like higher audience turnout, marketing strategies, and financial considerations, there are exceptions to this pattern.

Major films often choose to release on festive occasions such as Holi, Diwali, and Eid, capitalizing on the holiday period when audiences are more likely to watch movies.

Additionally, patriotic movies often release on significant national dates like Independence Day (August 15) or Republic Day (January 26). These special release dates align with the theme and purpose of the films, creating a stronger connection with the audience and enhancing their impact.

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