A great ensemble cast and a renowned director unable to help Metro… Dino is floundering at the box office. But why? Is it fatigue, bad marketing, or bad timing?
🎬The Setup: Big Dreams, Bigger Names in Play
When Metro… In Dino was announced, the excitement was great. The movie was positioned as an equal and spiritual sequel to Life… In a Metro (2007), the movie was both critically popular and received city patronage. The movie starred Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher, and Ali Fazal. Directed by Anurag Basu, the film had so many expectations that it was difficult not to have them.
However, with the film doing below 3 crores on the first day, the hype has died off. The critics are not very impressed, the mass response appears nonchalant, and theatre crowds are not correlated to the glamour. So what happened?
📉 1. Content Fatigue: Have Anthology Films Overstayed Their Welcome?
The style of anthology storytelling used to be new and close in the OTT era. However, over the past few years, its uniqueness has drowned in the sheer amount of short-story-centered content that can be found on Netflix, Prime Video, and Hotstar.
Metro… Whereas in Dino, though having a well-meaning one at that, appears rather to do more of what we have already witnessed; urban love, heartbreak, relationship drama, disconnected individuals… the only difference this time is that there is no star that flashes out.Metro… Whereas in Dino, though having a well-meaning one at that, appears rather to do more of what we have already witnessed; urban love, heartbreak, relationship drama, disconnected individuals… the only difference this time is that there is no star that flashes out.
The importance of this: In an era of either big blockbuster movies or small, very intimate films, Metro… The problem in Dino is that it bungles along in the middle; it tries to say a lot, but it says nothing new.
📢 2. Marketing Mismatch-The Never Was Buzz
Come on, be real– how many people knew this film was coming out this week?
As opposed to other expensive-ticket movies, Metro… Dino did not do aggressive marketing. No massive pre-release promotion, no viral social media, and no talk-shots by the cast. The release of the trailer was also unstimulating and did not attract enthusiasm.
This is in contrast to Chandu Champion or even Mr. and Mrs. Mahi- Films that built consistent hype due to the use of influencer marketing, behind-the-scenes content, and catchy music.
Lesson: An epic story is not sufficient when people do not even get to know that there is a story coming. And in the era of overdose of content, everything is about being seen.
⏳ 3. Bad timing: Got the wrong film on the wrong weekend
Metro… In Dino fell into a busy cinema window and was at variance with:
- The family-friendly (and franchise-supported) Despicable Me 4 is coming out of Hollywood
- The success of Kalki 2898 AD, which lingers on, was created by such scenes.
- Various local movies, such as Sardaar Ji 3, which were doing tremendously well in their markets
The result? Poor walk-ins, reduced advance booking, and tight competition for screens and show times.
🎭 4. A Such Urban, Such Niche?
Come on, the love stories that focus on the city may appeal to a particular age group, but they are not aiming at bringing in the masses to the theatres throughout India. The genre that focuses on urban appeals does not go well beyond Tier 1 cities.
Metro… The film In Dino appears to target the so-called coffee shop, Netflix-bingeing, urban millennial. However, this is no longer sufficient. In order to be successful in cinemas, a movie must appeal to universal notes.
🎼 5. Forgotten Music on a Movie That Could Have Used a Good Song
The real Life… In Metro album (music composed by Pritam) played a great role in its success. There are such songs as In Dino, Alvida, and Baatein Kuch Ankahee Si, which are still popular nowadays.
But Metro… In Dino-although the original title song has been produced-there is no good musical foundation. All the new songs failed to trend and become regular in the playlist.
In the Indian movie industry, particularly in the case of romantic drama, music powers emotion and memory value. This is an aspect that this film failed to get.
🔍 6. Is the Format of Anthology Raising Its Head in Theatres?
OTTs are open to anthology storytelling (such as Lust Stories, Modern Love, etc.), but at the box office, the people still seem to want:
- Sound plotlines
- Escapist entertainment
- Emotional payoff that is high
By their nature, anthologies may be scattered. Some narrations relate, some do not. The result? A disjointed experience with viewing that will never seem worth the visit to the cinema. By their nature, anthologies may be scattered. Some narrations relate, some do not. The result? A disjointed experience with viewing that will never seem worth the visit to the cinema.
📲 7. It Would Have Fitted Better as OTT?
Considering the atmosphere, structure, and speed of Metro… In Dino, a great number of audience members feel that this movie would have been more successful when released on a direct-to-digital basis. On networks such as Netflix or Prime, the audience is more understanding of a story that is less fast-paced and utilizes a format that remains experimental.
Theatres require an impact. They require speed, thrill, or intense emotional release. Unfortunately, Metro… Dino is neither too full.
🧠 A concluding remark: What can filmmakers learn from this?
Metro… In Dino, everything was right: there was a talented cast, an authoritative director, and topical themes. However, it is good but not enough in the competition of 2025 films. You need:
Keen, laser-like marketing
Broad universal appeal in stories
A movie catch phrase that drags individuals out of their houses
There is no doubt that Anurag Basu is a sincere storyteller. However, the film perhaps belonged not to the halls but the heart.
💬 Your Turn:
Have you seen Metro… In Dino?
What has been successful and what has not?
Also Read: Heads of State: Flashy, Funny, and Easily Forgotten 2025