iWorld
Lionsgate Q3 revenue hits $724.3m, net loss widens to $46.2m
Motion picture gains offset by TV slowdown and rising promotional spend
CALIFORNIA: Lionsgate reported quarterly revenue of more than $724 million, yet the Hollywood studio slipped to a net loss exceeding $46 million as rising marketing costs erased gains from an otherwise robust film slate.
Adjusted earnings missed analyst expectations, with the shortfall largely attributed to aggressive promotional spending behind theatrical releases. The motion picture division led growth, posting a 35 per cent jump in revenue to $421 million, but profitability was squeezed as costs climbed sharply.
Television production revenue fell 25 per cent to $303 million, which the company attributed to the timing of programme deliveries rather than weakening demand.
The standout performer remained Lionsgate’s content library. Revenue from its catalogue of more than 20,000 titles rose 10 per cent on a trailing 12-month basis to over $1 billion, marking a fifth consecutive quarter of record growth and reinforcing the library’s status as the company’s most reliable cash generator.
Beyond the numbers, Lionsgate sent a clearer signal to investors by confirming it will allow its shareholder rights plan, commonly known as a ‘poison pill,’ to expire in May. The move leaves the studio more exposed to takeover approaches at a time when consolidation pressures continue to build across the media industry.
While Lionsgate continues to back a pipeline of IP-driven films, the easing of takeover defences suggests management sees greater value in the company’s scale, production infrastructure and extensive library than in remaining independent.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
