India’s multiplex chain, PVR INOX Limited closed 2025 with its strongest operational momentum since the pandemic, buoyed by a sharp spike in December admissions and a handful of outsized film performances that reaffirmed the box office’s dependence on scale, premium formats, and event-led cinema.

December 2025 emerged as the highest admissions month of the year and the third-best in the post-Covid period for the exhibitor, underscoring a late-year revival after an uneven start to the calendar. The surge was driven largely by sustained footfalls for marquee titles, weekday show strength, and expanded play across premium formats.

At the centre of December’s performance was Dhurandhar, which crossed the ₹300-crore mark at PVR INOX during the month alone. The film has now delivered a gross box office collection of ₹375 crore for the multiplex chain, helped by strong weekday occupancy, early-morning screenings, and late-night shows—slots that typically see softer demand.

Dhurandhar opened across 1,250 PVR INOX screens nationwide and maintained momentum into its second weekend, reinforcing a familiar trend for exhibitors: films with wide releases and strong recall continue to command repeat viewing, even as overall theatrical attendance remains selective.

The December uptick was further supported by Hollywood tentpoles. Avatar: Fire & Ash played across all operational IMAX screens, alongside ICE, 4DX, MX4D, and ScreenX formats. Premium formats once again accounted for a disproportionate share of revenues, reflecting consumers’ willingness to pay higher ticket prices for differentiated experiences rather than routine cinema outings.

For the full year, India’s box office saw 37 films cross the ₹100-crore threshold across Hindi, regional, and international titles—a sign that theatrical demand remains resilient but concentrated. The data reinforces a widening gap between high-performing “event films” and mid-budget releases that struggle to draw audiences to theatres.

PVR INOX’s performance also highlights the exhibitor’s reliance on scale and format innovation to offset volatility in content supply. With 1,774 screens across 356 properties, the company continues to benefit from wide release capabilities and the ability to monetise premium seating, sound, and screen technologies.

Ajay Bijli, Managing Director, PVR INOX Limited, said, “2025 has been a defining year for PVR INOX. Our focus on immersive cinema experiences, supported by effective programming and pricing, drove strong admissions momentum across the year. We are seeing renewed enthusiasm from younger audiences, including Gen Z, and with a robust content pipeline and expanding premium formats, we are well positioned for sustained growth.”

Looking ahead, the outlook for exhibitors hinges on a steady flow of large-scale films and the continued expansion of premium formats. While streaming platforms remain a structural competitor, 2025 once again demonstrated that theatrical growth in India is less about volume and more about scale, spectacle, and selective audience engagement.