Critically acclaimed ‘Shape of MoMo’ fails at box office
The film, which recently premiered simultaneously in Nepal and India after screening at multiple prestigious global festivals, has received strong reviews from critics.
KATHMANDU: The Nepali film industry often follows the belief that “good films eventually succeed,” but several recent releases have challenged this idea.
A notable example is the film Shape of MoMo, which has been widely praised at international film festivals and has even won awards. Despite its critical success, the film has performed poorly at the box office in both Nepal and India.
The film, which recently premiered simultaneously in Nepal and India after screening at multiple prestigious global festivals, has received strong reviews from critics.
Media outlets in both countries have praised its storytelling style and performances, with some reviews suggesting that Nepali cinema of this level has rarely been seen before.
However, audience turnout has been disappointing. In Nepal, the film is reportedly being removed from theaters, with no shows scheduled for upcoming Fridays at the time of reporting. This indicates extremely low commercial performance.
A similar situation is seen in India. The film initially released with around half a dozen shows but has now lost most of its screenings within a week.
Reports show that only a single show remained on Thursday, with none scheduled for Friday, pointing toward a commercial failure in the Indian market as well.
The underperformance of Shape of MoMo highlights a recurring trend in Nepali cinema: strong critical reviews and festival recognition do not necessarily translate into box office success.
Earlier films such as Rajagunj, Secret of Radha, Shambala, Keti Harayeko Suchana, Gaun Aayeko Bato, and Seto Surya have faced similar outcomes, reflecting a significant gap between critics’ appreciation and audience preferences.
