Boxoffice Pro - April 2020

CINEPLEX SEES
ATTENDANCE DROP,
CONCESSIONS BUMP
IN 2019
An eventful 2019 for Cineplex ended
with the announcement that it
would be acquired by U.K. multinational
circuit Cineworld. The acquisition is
expected to close during the first half
of 2020 (pending regulatory and court
approval) and would make Cineworld
the largest exhibitor in North America
following its 2018 acquisition of Regal.
Cineplex finished the year with annual
box office revenues of $705.5 million (all
dollar amounts Canadian), a 2.6 percent
slide from 2018 due to a 4.2 drop in
attendance. A weak film slate in Q1 2019
took its toll on the circuit, resulting in a 15.6
decrease in quarterly attendance for the
circuit. The company says the Q1 decline
in attendance was responsible for approximately
$24.9 million in missed revenue.
Sales at the concession stand hit
record revenues in 2019 with a $446.6
Image courtesy Cineplex
million haul, a 1.3 percent increase from
2018. Cineplex expanded the number of
locations offering alcohol service in its
circuit by 52, bringing the total of theaters
with adult-beverage selections to 87
(excluding VIP cinemas). Patrons craving
movie theater popcorn at home can now
have their fix thanks to partnerships
with Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes,
which offer home delivery of
concessions items at more than 100
locations.
Digital ticket sales saw an 8 percent
uptick year-over-year, with 35 percent of
all tickets bought online. The Canadian
circuit expanded its footprint in the Great
White North with two new theaters and a
VIP Cinema in 2019, while announcing new
builds and entertainment center concepts
scheduled through 2022.
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April 2020
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