PVR Inox, India’s largest multiplex chain, reported a wider quarterly loss yesterday, as a lacklustre line-up of new film releases and muted urban spending dampened audience turnout.

The company, formed by the merger of PVR and Inox labels, reported an adjusted consolidated loss of Rs. 1.06 billion ($12.48 million) in the fourth quarter ending March 31, compared with a loss of Rs. 901 million a year ago, a Reuters report stated.

PVR blamed an “uneven release calendar” in fiscal 2025 for the performance, with March flagged as a particularly weak month. This lull in content contributed to the overall decline in admissions and revenue. Among major Hindi-language titles during the quarter, only historical action film ‘Chhaava’ delivered a strong box office showing.

The subdued demand comes amid ongoing pressure on urban consumption, driven by sluggish wage growth and a high cost of living, even as inflation continues to moderate.

Amid an increase of 10.5 percent year-on-year in the average ticket price, per-head spending on food and beverages dropped 3.5 percent, dragging revenue from the food and beverages’ segment down 7.8 percent.

To revive audience turnout, PVR Inox has rolled out weekday discounts and re-released older films. Still, quarterly occupancy fell by 208 basis points to 20.5 percent, while total admissions declined 6.3 percent to 30.5 million.

PVR Inox’s overall revenue declined marginally to Rs. 12.50 billion, the Reuters report added.