Movie theaters in the Valley are enjoying robust in business in recent years thanks to emergence of international standard cinema halls with state of the art sound and projection system. Theater and multiplex owners say the number of moviegoers is increasing by 20 to 30 percent every year.
Multiplex and theater owners say they are witnessing 80 percent occupancy during weekends and over 50 percent occupancy on weekdays. This is a growth of more than 20 percent as compared to three or four years ago.
“Multiplex business is on the boom due to emergence of international standard theaters amid growth in the number of moviegoers,” said Arshad Shahi, facility manager at QFX Cinemas that operates three theaters in the Valley. Shahi said QFX Cinemas is enjoying 80 percent occupancy during weekends and 50 percent on weekdays.
Theater operators say watching movies on holidays has emerged as a popular means of recreation for Valley denizens in recent years. This has led to growth in occupancy during weekends by more than 50 percent, according to theater operators. Late night shows are also turning lucrative for theater owners in recent months. Most of the theater owners say revenue from late night shows contribute more than 30 percent of their total revenue.
“Until six or seven months ago, ticket sale for late night shows was near to nil. Now, most of the late night shows during weekends are houseful,” said Bharat Singh Rajput, operation manager at Big Cinemas. Rajput attributed the increase in ticket sale for late night shows to improved security situation in the country.
Big Cinemas record 60 percent occupancy during weekends and 25 percent on weekdays. It enjoys cent percent occupancy on Wednesday when the multiplex offers tickets at just Rs 149 per person.
Shahi of QFX Cinemas sees the growing craze for 3D cinemas as one of the factors behind growth in ticket sales in multiplexes. “We enjoyed 100 percent occupancy while screening 3D movies like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows and Kung Fu Panda,” he added.
The popularity of 3D movies is been so huge that cinema hall operators such as Quest Entertainment -- the operator of QFX Cinemas -- and Gopi Krishna Movies are planning to add 3D theaters. Quest is opening 3D theater in QFX Kumari by the second week of August. Similarly, Gopi Krishna Movies plans to launch 3D theater by the Dashain festival.
“3D technology is the latest craze in movie industry. We are all set to tap this segment by introducing a 3D theater in two months,” said Pradeep Dahal, manager of Gopi Krishna Movies.
Rajput sees footfall at theaters growing at even faster pace in the coming days. “Lack of quality theaters and movies were hindering the growth of this sector. As both these problems have been addressed, there is no reason why footfall at theaters shouldn´t grow,” Rajput added.
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