‘Spideyssey’ after ‘Barbenheimer’ – it’s a rare double bonanza at cinemas | Noida News

Noida: Dressed in a Spider-Man T-shirt, 23-year-old Arpit arrived at US Cinemas in Indirapuram’s Aditya Mall on Saturday afternoon with his own Mary Jane, girlfriend Khushi, to catch the latest instalment of the Marvel superhero. Both of them were here last week as well to watch Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.“We were planning to watch Spider-Man together for weeks,” Arpit said. “She is not really a fan, but I am. A huge one. When two big films release so close together, you have to prioritise. For me, Spider-Man came first, but last week, Khushi convinced me to watch The Odyssey first,” he said.Theatres across NCR are seeing a rare double-blockbuster moment with Spider-Man: Brand New Day swinging into theatres while Christopher Nolan’s epic spectacle continues to draw full houses in its third week. Multiplexes are balancing demand as moviegoers navigate this back-to-back box office clash, akin to “Barbenheimer” in 2023 when movie theatres, now overshadowed by OTTs, became the most crowded places in town.At DLF Mall of India in Noida, seven of the multiplex’s 15 screens have been allotted to Spider-Man, while one screen continues to run The Odyssey in its third week.“Despite entering its third week, The Odyssey is still running houseful,” said Prince, who works at the ticket counter. “Spider-Man has brought another wave of excitement. People are asking for both films.”

For many, the weekend also became a nostalgia trip. Outside a PVR multiplex in Noida, William and Luckus, who travelled from Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar with their friend Rohit, were reliving memories of their college days.“The last time we watched a Spider-Man film together in theatres was in 2021,” William said. Pointing to a Spider-Man graphic on his T-shirt, he shared, “I picked this up from a local store just for today. It’s more of a fashion statement.”William said that he watched The Odyssey the previous weekend. “Most of the content is on OTT now, but films like these bring us back to theatres. I won’t say I am a fan of Marvel series, but if it is Spider-Man, I won’t miss it,” William said.

With shows running to full houses, not everyone managed to secure tickets. Outside the ticket counter at DLF Mall, Shruti stood with her seven-year-old son, having arrived nearly half an hour late for the 1 pm show without booking. “My son has been after me to watch Spider-Man,” she said. “I didn’t think Saturday shows would get booked this quickly. I have travelled from Greater Noida to see this movie in 4DX. So, now we are waiting for the 3.15 pm show,” she said.At Logix Mall, a group of college students, who had already watched both films, were found locked in a debate. “We watched The Odyssey two weeks ago and Spider-Man today,” said Amey, a student at Delhi’s Hans Raj College. “I liked The Odyssey more, though I’m not really into Nolan’s films or into comics — the action felt missing.”For Ankita and Harshit, the debate reflected different loyalties. “I’m a Marvel fan,” Ankita said. “If you’re a true fan, you watch it on day one, or at least catch the second show. I’ve read the comics and watched every film. It’s about experience.”Harshit smiled: “For me, it’s Nolan. But as long as we both watch our favourite films, everybody wins.”Cinema operators say the twin releases have significantly boosted business. Pankaj Singh, assistant manager at Rajhans Cinema in Galaxy Diamond Plaza, Greater Noida, said the multiplex has scheduled 10 Spider-Man shows daily — five in 2D, five in 3D. “The 3D shows are going houseful,” he said.The surge has also lifted food and beverage spending. “On Friday, our average F&B spend touched Rs 190 per person, compared with Rs 156 before Spider-Man released. That’s our highest in nearly two years,” Singh said. Two auditoriums at the five-screen multiplex, with a seating capacity of around 760, are running The Odyssey currently. “The response wasn’t as explosive as Spider-Man’s, but it was still among the best we’ve seen in two years,” he added.Industry executives say the two films were complementing, rather than competing, with each other. “The simultaneous release of two global tentpoles has created strong momentum for theatrical exhibition,” said Kamal Gianchandani, chief strategy officer, PVR INOX Ltd.“We’re seeing sustained bookings and audience interest, with several shows running houseful. Given the exceptional demand for Spider-Man, we’ve added morning shows across several cinemas. Premium formats like PXL, IMAX, 4DX, SCREENX and ICE remain the preferred choice for audiences seeking an immersive experience,” he said.