Movie theaters have been part of the Indian entertainment landscape for decades, providing a place for fans to come together and enjoy the latest releases. With the advent of streaming services, there has been some debate about whether or not movie theaters are becoming obsolete. But recent data shows that India still holds a strong interest in movie theaters and that many people still choose to watch movies in the theater.
A report from FICCI-KPMG revealed that India is home to more than 10,000 operational screens, making it the third biggest film market in the world. These screens are spread over 7500 single screens and 2500 multiplexes, which account for almost two-thirds of total box office revenue. This means that more than two-thirds of all box office revenue comes from movie theaters.
The report also showed that more than 1.25 billion tickets were sold at Indian cinemas in 2019, a growth of 4% on 2018 figures. This means an average of around 3 million tickets were sold each day across multiplexes and single screens. The total revenue generated by these ticket sales was Rs 13,800 crore ($1.9 billion) with an average ticket price of Rs 109 ($1.5).
The report also showed that there was an overall growth in cinema attendance among both men and women aged between 15-24 years old, with men accounting for 55% of all ticket buyers and women accounting for 45%. This suggests that younger generations are still engaging with films in the cinema.
Overall, these figures show that despite streaming services becoming more popular in India, there is still a strong interest in movie theaters, with people continuing to choose them as their preferred way to watch films.
Conclusion:
Movie theaters remain a popular choice for Indian viewers when it comes to watching films. Despite competition from streaming services, data shows that 1.25 billion tickets were sold at Indian cinemas in 2019 alone, generating a total revenue of Rs 13,800 crore ($1.9 billion). This suggests that many people still prefer to watch movies on the big screen when given the opportunity.