A movie based on the deadly Mumbai terrorist attacks of 2008 has been suspended from all New Zealand cinemas following the Christchurch shootings.
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Hotel Mumbai stars Dev Patel in an intense, documentary-style thriller based on the four-day ordeal that saw Pakistani militants carry out a series of bombing and shooting attacks, killing at least 174.
The film opened to Kiwi audiences on Thursday and continued to play over the weekend, but was suspended on Monday until March 28 following Friday's terrorist attack at two Christchurch mosques, which left 50 people dead.
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Hotel Mumbai came in at number two at the New Zealand weekend box office, behind Captain Marvel. The Motion Pictures Distributors Association (MPDA) reports the film's weekend revenue was close to $120,000.
A statement from Icon Film Distribution said the decision was made "out of respect for a country in mourning".
"Following the recent terrorist attacks in New Zealand, Icon Film Distribution have announced the suspension of the film Hotel Mumbai from all cinemas in New Zealand".
The statement from the company claimed all advertising for the film was immediately pulled following news of the attacks on Friday, but the actual movie continued to be screened.
Now, however, it's been suspended.
"After consultation with local exhibition partners, the decision was made to suspend the film out of respect for a country in mourning."
According to Stuff, Christchurch cinema owner Jeremy Stewart made the call to cancel all screenings of the film at The Tannery's Deluxe Cinema and Rangiora's Town Hall Cinemas on Monday.
"As a small business based in the community where some horrific events have taken place, I think it would be irresponsible for me to keep it going," he told Stuff.
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