India's movie buffs are up, close and personal with Hollywood: Study

India remains a Hollywood crazy nation, finds a study by data and market measurement firm Nielsen for &flix. The study, “Hollywood Is For Everyone”, covered a sample of 1,500-plus movie buffs across eight metros and non-metros, including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Indore.

The report, put together after collating responses of people in the age groups of 23 to 30 (37 per cent), 32 to 40 (50 per cent) and 41 to 50 (13 per cent), delved into the consumer preferences, attitudes, behaviours, lifestyles and mindsets of movie buffs in India.

The study found that nine in 10 movie lovers watch both English and Hindi/regional films. Compared to Bollywood and regional movies, 91 per cent felt Hollywood films have better power-packed action sequences and special effects.

Over 70 per cent said they preferred to watch films on television rather than on over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The reasons given were: television viewing is economical since you have to pay a single service provider for access to content from a wider range of channels; bigger and better, since the movie can be enjoyed on a wider screen in high-definition (HD); merrier as the screening experience can be shared with friends and family; and niftier as it does not involve browsing through content to decide what to view.

A sizeable 82 per cent also felt that TV viewing came closest to the big-screen experience amid the lockdown.

Looking specifically into Hollywood enthusiasts, the study found them to be tech-savvy and brand-conscious individuals who seek new experiences, are in sync with the latest trends and are avid travellers. The survey also found that this cohort earns one and a half times more than those who watch largely only Bollywood or regional cinema; is twice more likely to buy higher-priced products; is more than two times more likely to own a four-wheeler; and has a stronger social media presence.