Over the last few years, holiday film releases have gained more importance.
The 2017 movie release calendar is out, and filmmakers have picked the major festival/ holiday time to release their films.
Here's a look.
Lohri
OK Jaanu and xXx: The Return of Xander Cage
Release date: January 13
Since the first festival of the year Lohri falls on a Friday, Karan Johar made sure to block the date for his romcom OK Jaanu.
With the film, Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor would like to move on from Fitoor and Rock On 2 respectively.
Meanwhile, Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone's xXx: The Return of Xander Cage has been announced for January 14, a week before its international release.
Republic Day
Raees and Kaabil
Release date: January 25
The biggest clash of 2017 will be between Raees and Kaabil; both films are vying for the long weekend for Republic Day on Thursday.
Since the film is releasing on Wednesday, the films will get five days to make moolah right at the onset. Since it is a national holiday, expect some major records to be set.
Holi
Badrinath Ki Dulhania
Release date: March 10
Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya will add to the colours on the Holi weekend.
The film, starring Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, gains a good four-day weekend, as Holi falls on Monday.
Producer Karan Johar may have another winner on his hands, just by setting his release date right!
Good Friday
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
Release date: April 14
But Karan Johar's biggest production this year is Telugu film Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which releases on the Good Friday holiday weekend. The film is as big as it gets and deserves all the space it can possibly have.
No wonder, there isn't any Hindi film releasing on this date as even its dubbed version is keenly awaited.
Eid
Tubelight
Release date: June 23
Salman Khan loves to release his movies during Eid and this year will be no different.
His film Tubelight, directed by Kabir Khan, will release during this period.
The film is all set to break more records, as Eid falls on Monday. If the film is well made and accepted by the audience, the euphoria will be felt over the next weekend as well!
Raksha Bandhan
Bhoomi and Secret Superstar
Release date: August 4
Raksha Bandhan is a holiday in certain parts of the country, and Bhoomi as well as Secret Superstar will aim at making the most of it.
Though the two films are releasing on the same day, their content is very different.
While Bhoomi is a revenge drama and will see Sanjay Dutt back on the big screen after a long time, Secret Superstar is about a 14-year-old girl who wants to become a singer and stars Aamir Khan in a cameo.
Janmashtmi/ Independence Day
Shah Rukh-Imtiaz-Anushka's next
Release date: August 11
One of the best weekends in 2017 is the one that falls around Janmashtmi (Monday) and Independence Day (Tuesday). It gives the Friday release a good weekend of five days.
It's no wonder that Shah Rukh Khan is aiming for that slot with his next yet-untitled film with director Imtiaz Ali and co-star Anushka Sharma.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Reloaded
Release date: 25 August
Sidharth Malhotra and Jacqueline Fernandez have booked Ganesh Chaturthi holiday for the release of their film Reloaded. In a way, they are lucky that no other major film is eyeing this date as yet.
Bakr Eid
Baadshaho
Release date: September 1
Ajay Devgn has booked his slot early in the holiday season with Baadshaho. The holiday falls on Saturday and that would give director Milan Luthria's film good momentum right into the weekend.
With Emraan Hashmi joining hands with the team again after Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, there is good hype already building around the film.
Dussehra/ Gandhi Jayanti
Judwaa 2
Release date: September 29
With Varun Dhawan stepping into Salman's double role and David Dhawan pairing up with Sajid Nadiadwala yet again 20 years after the original Judwaa, one expects nothing less than double the fun.
The release date is fantastic, with Dussehra on Saturday and Gandhi Jayanti on Monday. That gives the film a weekend of almost five days!
Diwali
2.0
Release date: October 19
Diwali falls on Thursday this year, making it a perfect day to release a film.
And that's why Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar have already booked their slot for Diwali.
Expect a lot of firecrackers.
Christmas
Tiger Zinda Hai
Release date: December 21
Though the Christmas break is synonymous with Aamir Khan, 2017 will be an exception, as the holiday has been reserved by Salman Khan.
His Tiger Zinda Hai arrives on Christmas and the film has a lot to gain since it will enjoy an excellent weekend of five days. Moreover, the holiday season continues right into the New Year and hence Ali Abbas Zafar's sequel to Ek Tha Tiger has a lot to gain.
