After a strong Q3 show, multiplex operators face near-term headwinds

While January could be a washout, footfalls are expected to recover once the virus impact wanes

The December quarter performance of listed multiplex operators is expected to be their best in seven quarters. The gains were aided by a recovery in footfall, relaxations on occupancies, and new movie releases in the quarter. Barring seven states, which had allowed 100 per cent occupancies, most states had a 50-per cent cap in place for multiplexes.

While the country’s largest operator is expected to cross the Rs 500-crore mark in revenue, Inox Leisure could close the quarter with sales of Rs 280 crore.

Given the start-stop nature of operations in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the top line for the two firms in