Why OTT Hit Series Struggle at the Box Office.. What Went Wrong With Mirzapur and Epic?

Films are usually released in theatres first and arrive on OTT platforms after a few weeks. However, there have also been cases where popular OTT series and their characters are adapted into theatrical films. Recent examples such as Mirzapur and Epic show that the popularity of a web series does not automatically translate into the same response in theatres. Both projects had established characters and an existing audience, but their theatrical journeys were different from the impact of their respective series.

Mirzapur became widely popular through Amazon Prime Video, with its characters such as Munna Bhaiya, Kaleen Bhaiya, Guddu Bhaiya and Bablu Bhaiya becoming strongly associated with the series. When the characters were brought to the big screen, a new storyline and additional characters were introduced, but the film reportedly could not recreate the intensity and high points that audiences had experienced in the series. Epic, meanwhile, expanded the Aditya character from the popular Telugu web series #90s into a story about his life after growing up and moving abroad for higher studies. Despite generating some interest through its trailer and songs, the film received criticism for its less relatable romantic portions and the prominence of intimate scenes. These examples underline the importance of strong, relatable storytelling when adapting OTT properties for theatrical audiences.