Why Do We Love Commercial Movies So Much?

From time to time, we hear critics and filmmakers discuss the difference between artistic cinema and serious storytelling on one hand, and commercial films on the other. Yet, despite the praise often given to art films, commercial movies continue to attract larger audiences, generate more attention, and earn significantly more at the box office.

If audiences have consistently chosen commercial cinema over art-house films over the years, there must be a reason for it, right?

In this blog, I want to explore some of the possible reasons why commercial films tend to resonate more strongly with the masses, and what makes them so successful in capturing the audience’s attention.

The X Factor

Most commercial movies have what we might call an “X Factor”—something that makes them entertaining, appealing, and exciting for the audience. It could be the glamorous outfits of the female lead, a catchy and popular song, an item number, the charm of a particular actor, or simply an impressive ensemble cast.

Sometimes, a movie becomes popular because of just one such element. It may be a song that becomes a chartbuster, a star whose presence draws audiences to theatres, or a particular character or scene that captures the public’s imagination. Whatever the reason, this X Factor often gives a commercial film an added appeal that makes people want to watch it.

Dabangg is perhaps one of the clearest examples of the “X Factor.” Salman Khan’s Chulbul Pandey became a major attraction in itself, but the film also benefited enormously from its music, particularly “Munni Badnaam Hui.” The song became a chartbuster and was widely discussed even outside the context of the film. Contemporary reporting described item numbers as crowd-pullers and specifically noted how “Munni Badnaam Hui” helped create buzz around Dabangg.

Similarly, movies like Bunty Aur Babli and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham are good examples of films where the songs attracted as much, if not more, attention than the stories themselves.

How can we forget the buzz created by Alia Bhatt’s beautiful outfits in Student of the Year, or Salman Khan’s distinctive hairstyle in Tere Naam? These may seem like small details, but they can become memorable elements of a film and contribute significantly to its appeal among audiences.

Commercial cinema often understands the power of visual glamour—fashionable clothes, elaborate sets, catchy songs, and big-budget item numbers can all add to the overall entertainment value of a movie. Art films, on the other hand, generally tend to place greater emphasis on the story, characters, performances, or social themes rather than on such flashy elements. This difference in presentation may be another reason why commercial films often have a stronger mass appeal.

The Casting

Perhaps the most powerful weapon of commercial cinema is big-budget star casting. In India, people don’t simply admire celebrities but they often develop an extraordinary level of love and fandom for them. A popular star can create enormous buzz around a film even before its release. In many cases, the presence of a well-known celebrity itself becomes a marketing tool, generating publicity and attracting audiences without the film having to rely entirely on traditional advertising.

Commercial cinema understands and capitalises on the power of celebrity fandom. This is also one reason why many popular film franchises continue to thrive: audiences develop an attachment not only to the characters and stories, but also to the actors who play them. Sometimes, the promise of seeing a beloved star return to a familiar role is enough to create anticipation for the next instalment.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!

Remember Shehnaaz Gill’s famous statement in Bigg Boss about entertainment being an important part of life. The same idea applies remarkably well to commercial cinema.

Entertainment is a major factor when it comes to choosing a movie. Sometimes people are simply tired of the seriousness and responsibilities of their everyday lives. After spending the entire day dealing with work, stress and problems, they may not want to watch something that requires them to think too deeply. They simply want to watch something that makes them laugh, feel happy, forget their worries for a while, or even get up and groove to a catchy song.

This is where commercial cinema has an advantage. It understands that watching a movie is not always about seeking intellectual stimulation or a profound message. Sometimes, people just want to have fun. They want colourful visuals, memorable songs, comedy, romance, action and larger than life characters. Sometimes, simple things make more sense.

Ultimately, this may be one of the biggest reasons commercial cinema continues to attract the masses. Its strength lies in understanding what people want from entertainment. It does not always ask the audience to think, analyse or reflect. Sometimes, it simply gives them an opportunity to sit back, enjoy themselves and escape from the seriousness of everyday life.

Perhaps that is the real power of commercial cinema. It understands that a movie does not always have to change your life. Sometimes, making you smile for a few hours is enough.