In a significant pre-emptive legal move, producers of two major Kannada films have obtained a court order to block BookMyShow reviews for Mark and *45*, aiming to shield the films from potential hate campaigns and review bombing that could impact their crucial opening day collections. This strategy mirrors the action taken earlier for Darshan’s film The Devil, reflecting growing industry anxiety over orchestrated negative feedback.
The court order to block BookMyShow reviews compels the ticketing platform to disable its rating and review sections for these films during their initial release phase. Mark, starring Kiccha Sudeep and directed by Vijay Kartikeyaa, and *45*, a multi-starrer directed by Arjun Janya, are both scheduled for a high-stakes Christmas 2025 release. The injunction highlights the filmmakers’ concern that in today’s fan-driven market, rivalries or external controversies can translate into targeted online negativity, unfairly skewing audience perception.
This trend of seeking a court order to block BookMyShow reviews marks a shift in how big-ticket Sandalwood releases manage pre-release hype, now relying more on trailers and organic fan promotion than on early public ratings. While it aims to ensure a fair commercial launch, it also raises questions about audience expression and the evolving dynamics between film commerce and digital feedback in the industry.