Hollywood
Cinépolis gives popcorn power-up with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
MUMBAI: It is getting challenging to fill cinema halls as has been evident from the limited number of films racing up the box office charts. Now, Cinépolis India has taken an interesting tack to get cinema lovers back into theatres: it is offering mouth-watering tub of popcorn to those who pick up tickets of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. As Ethan Hunt gears up for his swan song, early bird ticket-buyers are getting a blockbuster snack bonus.
From 21 to 28 May, the first 80,000 customers who book tickets via the Cinépolis app or website will bag a free refill coupon for a Jumbo Popcorn tub—valid for all language versions of the film. That’s one mission that’s definitely not impossible.
It’s the first time Cinépolis is bundling food and film in a single digital move, marking a shift towards experience-led cinema in India’s increasingly competitive multiplex landscape.
And there’s more where that came from. The popcorn perk is part of a larger buffet of F&B promotions rolling out at Cinépolis, including:
* Special Menu Tuesdays: Curated bites starting at just Rs 99
* Buy-one-get-one cream & onion popcorn: Double the crunch, same cost
* Coca-Cola Birthday Special: Grab a Coke for Rs 139 with a food bill of Rs 139, celebrating the brand’s 139th year
* Free popcorn refills: With select bookings on Cinépolis digital platforms
The campaign is a crunchy step in Cinépolis’ broader mission: merging blockbuster cinema with curated culinary joy. With Hollywood’s hottest spy lighting up screens and snacks getting star billing, this summer, the plot just got tastier.
Hollywood
Paramount seeks FCC nod for foreign-backed $110 billion WBD deal
Gulf funds back merger as foreign stake nears 50 per cent, control stays with Ellison
NEW YORK: Paramount Global has approached the Federal Communications Commission seeking approval for foreign investments tied to its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking another key step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
According to regulatory filings made public this week, the investment backing the deal includes major Gulf sovereign funds such as the Public Investment Fund, the Qatar Investment Authority and L’imad Holding Company. Together, foreign investors are expected to hold just under 50 per cent of Paramount’s equity once the transaction is complete.
Despite the sizeable international backing, Paramount has made it clear that voting control will remain with the family of chief executive David Ellison, ensuring the company stays firmly under US control as required by broadcasting rules.
A company spokesperson described the FCC filing as routine for transactions involving foreign capital and stressed that it does not impact the closing of the deal. Under US law, any significant foreign ownership in broadcast licence holders must undergo regulatory review.
The merger itself has already cleared a major hurdle, with Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approving the deal on 23 April. The transaction values the company at $31 per share, a 147 per cent premium to its earlier trading price, reflecting strong strategic intent behind the tie-up.
If completed, the combined entity will bring together a vast portfolio including Warner Bros. film studios, HBO Max, and networks such as CNN, TNT and Discovery Channel. The deal is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
However, scrutiny is intensifying. The US Department of Justice has issued subpoenas seeking details on the merger’s potential impact on cinema competition, streaming services and content licensing. Reviews are also anticipated in international markets, including the United Kingdom.
There is also a financial safety net built into the agreement. If regulators ultimately block the deal, Paramount would face a $7 billion break-up fee. Additionally, the company has taken on $2.8 billion in obligations previously owed by Warner Bros. Discovery to Netflix following an earlier terminated arrangement.
Paramount maintains that easing foreign ownership barriers will unlock fresh capital and strengthen its ability to compete in a rapidly evolving media landscape. For now, the spotlight remains on regulators, whose decision will determine whether this global media consolidation moves from script to screen.
