New Delhi, Feb. 26 -- Two recent blockbusters-Dhurandhar and Border 2, which earned Rs.894 crore and Rs.354 crore at the box office, respectively-helped boost business for tier-two and tier-three town cinemas by at least 20 percent over last year. However, the big challenge for theatre owners in the smaller markets is whether Bollywood can supply mass-market movies that can sustain this momentum through the year. Hopes are pinned on Dhurandhar 2 and Salman Khan-starrer Battle of Galwan.

"Films like Dhurandhar and Border 2 have done better in tier-two and tier-three towns than metros, where the crowd is slightly more upmarket and sophisticated and may not take as well to action and violence," said Satwik Lele, chief operating officer at M...