'Lack of emotion, weak villain': Expert weighs in on why Siddharth Anand's 'Fighter' underperformed at box office

Credited for helming blockbuster hit films like War and Pathaan, Siddharth Anand’s Fighter, which recently hit theatres, failed to live up to its expectations. While it made a good start on its first day, Fighter, in 10 days of its release, managed to cross the 100-crore mark and is presently moving slowly at the box office. While many fans have praised the film, a section of fans seemed unimpressed with the aerial-action drama.

In reaction to the lukewarm response to the film, director Siddharth Anand recently gave an unexpected reason, stating that the film underperformed because “90 per cent of the Indians have not flown in planes.” The remark has not only gained significant media attention but also sparked a meme fest all over the internet.

Amid the criticism and reactions, a renowned film producer and industry expert recently shared his views, outlining the possible reasons that might have led to the film’s dull reception.

‘The film lacked connection with the public’

According to an ETimes report, the expert said that several factors caused the film to face a notable rise and sudden decline in box office numbers.

“First, the marketing and the promotional campaign were sophisticated but lacked connection with the public. The theme of the aerial adventure was also less relatable to the broader audience,” he said further citing the numbers that Fighter earned following its release.

He further continued and said that the underperformance was due to a lack of focus on marketing. “The film’s highly technical theme and lack of emotional connect made it peripheral and dry. Also, the absence of a strong and well-known antagonist against Hrithik Roshan’s fandom weakened the film, ” he added.

Further referring to Siddharth Anand‘s recently made remark that went viral, the expert said, “The statement added to the disconnection with the masses. The music also received criticism.”

For the unversed, Fighter opened with a decent number of Rs 22.5 crore and later grew to Rs 39.5 crore on Day 2. After recording Rs 27.5 crore and Rs 29 crore on the third and fourth days, the numbers fell short by a large difference and earned only Rs 8 crore on Day 5. With numbers remaining consistently below Rs 10 crore, the film till its Day 12 has earned Rs 176.15 crore.