Cinema: Theatres gear up for heavy rush

Dubai: Films will release on Thursday evenings instead of Wednesday evenings, the UAE's leading distributor said.

The change in release date means that cinemas are likely to be packed over the weekend because the rush would be spread over two days rather than three.

Until now, cinemas have released films on Wednesdays to maximise box office receipts in the evening from those who have Thursday and Friday as their weekend.

Operators want to switch to Thursday release dates because, with most people now likely to be working on Thursdays, there would not be a buzz about new films if they debuted on Wednesday evenings.

Fewer days

Before the change in weekends, cinemas tended to be extra busy on Wednesday evenings, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This is because although many in the government sector were off on Thursdays and Fridays, there were a lot of private sector employees with Friday and Saturday off.

The extra weekend business would be concentrated on Thursday evening, Friday and Saturday with nearly everyone likely to take Friday and Saturday off.

Salim Rania from Gulf Film, which has 130 screens across the UAE at its Grand Cinemas and also a film distributor, told Gulf News the company was “definitely'' changing to a Thursday release.

“We would change with the first week of the new weekend.''
Cinestar, with 40 screens, said a final decision has yet to be taken.