Box Populi
Pvr Inox serves up India’s first luxury dine-in cinema in Bengaluru
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… appetiser! PVR Inox is giving Bengaluru’s cinema-goers a taste of something extraordinary with the launch of India’s first-ever luxury dine-in cinema at M5 Ecity Mall, where silver screens meet silver service.
Fresh off opening its new eight screen multiplex at the mall, Pvr Inox is now transforming the movie experience into a full-fledged culinary and lifestyle destination. The new dine-in format lets guests enjoy gourmet, chef-curated meals in the comfort of their cinema seats, no stepping out, and remarkably, no movie ticket required to dine.
The concept redefines what a night at the movies means. From Crosta’s artisanal pizzas and Wokstar’s sizzling Asian comfort food to Dogfather’s inventive hot dogs and Local Street’s regional delicacies, every dish is designed to elevate the cinematic journey. Add to that café corners, indulgent desserts, and lounge-style foyers and the venue doubles as a social space for foodies and film buffs alike.
At the heart of this venture lies “youthification”, Pvr Inox’s futuristic approach to entertainment. The space integrates gaming zones, kids-first formats, and digital lounges, alongside its luxury auditoriums, appealing to young, experience-hungry audiences. “This is not just about watching films, it’s about spending time well,” said Pvr Inox lead specialist – innovation, film marketing & digital programming Aamer Bijli.
Echoing the sentiment, Pvr Inox Limited managing director Ajay Bijli added, “With M5 Ecity Mall, we’re inviting audiences to experience cinema in an entirely new way. From India’s first dine-in auditorium to immersive technology and curated food, it’s a celebration of films, lifestyle, and shared moments.”
The tech is as grand as the gastronomy. Every auditorium boasts Dolby Atmos, Dts:x, and 4k Laser projection, with the Big Pix theatre offering Reald 3D visuals, and the Samsung Onyx Led screen taking in-seat dining to dazzling new heights.
MUMBAI:If there is a soundtrack to cinema-going, it is the crackle of popcorn and in 2025, audiences at Cinépolis India clearly couldn’t get enough of it. The multiplex chain has revealed its annual popcorn consumption data, showing that moviegoers across its network devoured close to five million tubs of popcorn last year. Broken down, that works out to around 570 tubs every hour, or roughly 10 tubs disappearing every single minute, enough to keep the kernels popping almost non-stop.
In sheer volume terms, Cinépolis sold around 12,000 tonnes of popcorn during the year, underlining just how central the snack has become to the big-screen ritual. Long after the opening credits roll and before the end credits fade, popcorn remains the constant companion.
To celebrate National Popcorn Day on January 19, 2026, the cinema chain is now turning the spotlight on the snack itself. From January 20 to January 31, Cinépolis will run a nationwide “Popcorn Happy Hour”, offering a buy one get one free deal on popcorn across its locations. The limited-period promotion is designed to add a little extra crunch to the moviegoing experience, without adding to the bill.
“Popcorn is the official movie partner, and at Cinépolis, it is the sensory anchor of the cinema experience,” said Cinépolis India managing director Devang Sampat. “With the Popcorn Happy Hour offer, we are making it easier for audiences to add that to their visit, without compromising on quality.”
Sampat added that the consumption data is more than just a fun statistic. Tracking what patrons buy and when they buy it helps the chain refine its food and beverage offerings and shape the overall in-cinema experience. “Our 2025 data helps us understand what patrons are choosing, so we can keep improving the menu and the experience,” he said.
The popcorn push sits within Cinépolis India’s broader Foovies framework, an in-house strategy that treats food and beverages as a core part of cinema-going rather than a side order. The approach focuses on curated menus, value-led campaigns and data-driven decisions, using consumer behaviour to guide what lands at the concession counter.
As theatres continue to compete not just with streaming platforms but with every other leisure option vying for attention, the numbers suggest one thing remains rock-solid: when the lights dim, popcorn still rules the aisle. And with millions of tubs already behind it, Cinépolis is betting that the humble kernel will keep audiences coming back for another bite and another show.
