Gen Z drags audiences back to multiplexes, PVR Inox says

Under-30 viewers now deliver 57% of Hindi box office and 70% of first-day revenues, per PVR Inox. Sleeper hits like Obsession ($234M) and Backrooms ($221M), plus a ₹1,350 crore CineNow fund, are reshaping theatrical strategy as digital fatigue pushes Gen Z back to premium screens and smaller-town cinemas.

— Source publishedFri, 12 Jun, 2026, 09:30 IST·First seen Fri, 12 Jun, 2026, 17:54 IST·Source ET Retail

What happened

PVR INOX · PVR Inox says Gen Z is driving cinema admissions amid digital fatigue, with under-30 audiences contributing 57% of Hindi box office. Premiumisation,

Key facts

  • 57% Hindi box office from under-30
  • 70% first-day revenues
  • Obsession $234M global gross
  • Backrooms $221M global gross
  • CineNow ₹1,350 crore fund

Why this matters

Scout acquisition or partnership targets in regional multiplex chains and youth-skewed content financiers to ride the Gen Z theatrical resurgence before valuations reset upward.