Box Populi
PVR Inox brings India–Pak final to 100 plus big screens
MUMBAI: Popcorn, cheers and nail-biting overs, cricket’s fiercest rivalry is ready for its close-up. PVR Inox is turning the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan into a cinematic spectacle, screening the clash live on 28 September across more than 100 cinema halls nationwide.
Partnering with ITW Universe and the Asian Cricket Council, PVR Inox is offering fans an ad-free, stadium-like atmosphere, only this time with Dolby sound and plush recliners. Earlier India–Pakistan matches saw audiences clap, chant and celebrate in unison, recreating the charged energy of the stands.
“The screenings have shown us how deeply cricket connects our audiences,” said PVR Inox lead specialist – innovation, film marketing & digital programming Aamer Bijli. “It’s about creating an experience where fans feel every roar, every wicket and every boundary as if they were inside the stadium itself.”
The India–Pakistan final promises high drama, unforgettable gameplay and the kind of intensity that only this rivalry delivers. With tickets already live, fans are being urged to book fast to secure a seat for what promises to be more than just a match, a community celebration on the big screen.
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.
