Movie vs Web Series Distribution in India: Process, Costs & Secrets You Didn’t Know

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When the credits roll, most people think a film’s journey ends there. But for filmmakers and producers, that’s when the real business begins: distribution. Whether it’s a feature film hitting theatres or a web series landing on an OTT platform, the distribution process in India is a beast of its own.

If you’re a filmmaker, producer, or just a cinema geek who loves peeking behind the curtain, here’s your ultimate guide to distribution tasks and costs in India.

Split-scene illustration showing feature film distribution in a cinema hall on one side and web series streaming in a living room on the other, symbolizing movie vs OTT distribution in India.

Feature Film Distribution in India

What Really Happens Behind the Scenes?

  1. Acquisition of Rights – Producers sell theatrical, satellite, OTT, and overseas rights. Deals are done either as Minimum Guarantee (MG) or Revenue Sharing.

  2. Censor Certification – No CBFC certificate, no theatrical release. Simple as that.

  3. Territory Distribution – India is chopped into territories (Mumbai, Delhi-UP, Nizam, Tamil Nadu, etc.), each with local distributors.

  4. Marketing Mania – Posters, trailers, songs, influencer campaigns, press tours… P&A (Prints & Ads) is the single biggest money-burner.

  5. Logistics – Creating digital prints (DCP), sending them to cinemas via UFO/Qube, arranging dubbing and subtitling.

  6. Collections & Settlements – Weekly box office reports, revenue splits with multiplexes and single screens.

  7. Ancillary Sales – After theatres, the game shifts to TV, OTT, music, inflight, and remake rights.

Cost Breakdown: Feature Films

  • Censor Certificate: ₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000

  • DCP & Logistics: ₹25,000 – ₹2,00,000

  • Virtual Print Fee (VPF): ₹15,000 – ₹20,000 per screen

  • Marketing & Publicity: ₹1 crore – ₹20 crore+ (depends on scale)

  • Subtitling/Dubbing: ₹1 lakh – ₹20 lakh

  • Distributor Commission: 10%–15% or fixed MG

👉 In short: Distribution for a feature film is expensive. In fact, marketing (P&A) can sometimes cost more than the actual movie.

Web Series Distribution in India

Here’s where things flip. Web series don’t go through theatres, so the process is more streamlined and contract-driven.

Key Steps in Web Series Distribution

  1. Pitching to Platforms – Netflix, Prime Video, Hotstar, JioCinema, Zee5… if they like your series, they’ll buy it outright or on limited licensing.

  2. Contracting – Rights (exclusive or non-exclusive), regions (India-only or global), and duration (usually 3–5 years) are locked in legally.

  3. Content Delivery – Platforms demand technical perfection: QC tests, audio-video mastering, subtitles, dubbing, and metadata.

  4. Promotions – Platforms push trailers and social campaigns. Indie producers sometimes co-fund influencer marketing or PR events.

  5. Revenue Models – Mostly lump-sum buyouts by OTTs. Rarely, smaller platforms or aggregators offer revenue-sharing.

Cost Breakdown: Web Series

  • Pitching & Development: ₹5 lakh – ₹50 lakh

  • Legal & Contracts: ₹2 lakh – ₹20 lakh

  • Subtitling & Dubbing: ₹1 lakh – ₹10 lakh per language

  • QC & Deliverables: ₹5 lakh – ₹25 lakh

  • Marketing: ₹10 lakh – ₹2 crore (platform-led or shared)

  • Aggregator Fees (if used): 15%–25%

👉 Unlike films, web series distribution is less about territories and more about getting onto the right platform.

The Big Takeaway

  • Feature films bleed money on marketing and theatrical logistics, but the upside is box office + post-theatrical rights.

  • Web series skip theatres, but live or die by their OTT deal. Distribution costs are lower, but revenue is capped unless you land a strong licensing fee.

So, next time you watch a blockbuster or binge a new series, remember: behind the glamour lies a distribution machine that decides whether a film flies or flops.

What do you think — is theatrical distribution still king, or have OTT platforms completely taken over? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Filmmakers, what’s your biggest struggle in getting your film or web series distributed — box office, OTT, or marketing costs? 

Drop your experiences in the comments, let’s spark a real conversation!

Disclaimer: The processes, costs, and figures mentioned in this article are indicative and based on general industry practices for feature films and web series in India. Actual expenses may vary significantly depending on the scale of the project, region, and specific distribution agreements.

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