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At a time when speculations and theories suggest that the show business in India is struggling to catch a break, particularly owing to the underperformance of Bollywood movies, the earnings registered by cinema halls tell a different story altogether. In the first quarter of the ongoing 2025-26 financial year that ended in June, multiplex giant PVR INOX’s consolidated revenue rose by 23 percent to Rs 1,469 crore, with EBITDA margins reaching 27.04 percent, compared to Rs 1,191 crore during the same period last year, as per a report in CNBC TV18.
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With its consolidated net loss shrinking to Rs 54 crore from last time’s Rs 179 crore, the firm has kicked off this fiscal year strongly. Box office collections reportedly increased by nearly 22 per cent, driven by a 12 percent rise in admissions and an 8 percent increase in average ticket prices. Now, film exhibitors and other stakeholders are hopeful that a recovery might be possible after all, following a prolonged rough patch, especially with many highly anticipated films gearing up for release in the coming months.
Despite widespread claims that there were no takers for Bollywood films, the Hindi film industry contributed the most to PVR INOX’s impressive run this time. While a total of 10 films crossed the Rs 100 crore mark in the quarter ended June 30, five — Raid 2, Sitaare Zameen Par, Kesari Chapter 2, Housefull 5 and Jaat — were Hindi movies, and three among them entered the Rs 200 crore club. As a result, PVR INOX’s Bollywood box office collections surged by 38 per cent year-on-year (YoY).
Hollywood films also had a strong showing during this period, with a 72 per cent YoY growth, fuelled by major successes like Mission: Impossible 8, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Ballerina and F1. Regional films such as Good Bad Ugly, Thudarum and Tourist Family also made substantial contributions. While the multiplex giant aims to introduce 100 new screens this year, it has already managed to open 20 of them.
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The company’s CFO, Gaurav Sharma, told the publication that the food and beverage (F&B) segment also fared well during this quarter, recording a 23 per cent rise in revenue. The per-head spending, he added, reached its highest Q1 level ever. He also noted a 17 per cent increase in advertising revenue for PVR INOX.
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