Large premium-format screens, including Imax and 4DX, continue to derive the majority of their business from tentpole Hollywood films rather than local titles in India. According to reports from Mint, Christopher Nolan's upcoming film The Odyssey is selling tickets for as much as ₹3,000 as part of advance bookings for its mid-July release in certain Imax properties. Despite advance booking data suggesting the film has sold around 1.5 lakh tickets at last count, local films account for less than 10% of overall business in these premium formats. As Ashish Misra, head of commercialization at Cinepolis India, explained, "Indian films are still incremental here, not mainstream yet. Of everything that releases in Imax and 4DX in a year, only a small handful are local titles."
The financial disparity between international and domestic markets is stark. As reported by Mint, for the seven-day New Year period in China, Imax clocked $28 million in box office, while annual revenues in India are around $20 million. This significant gap reflects the limited content availability and audience adoption of premium formats in the Indian market compared to international markets. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, executive director of PVR Inox Ltd, noted that "Hollywood tentpoles continue to be among the biggest demand drivers for premium large-format screens such as Imax and 4DX in India."
The expansion of Imax and 4DX formats faces substantial barriers beyond content availability. According to Mint reports, building a commercial Imax theatre auditorium in India costs between ₹15 crore and ₹25 crore per screen, significantly higher than a standard cinema screen setup in India, which typically ranges from ₹2 crore to ₹2.5 crore. These high installation and operating costs limit expansion beyond major cities, as most Imax and 4DX movies are Hollywood films released occasionally, forcing cinemas to screen regular movies when premium content is unavailable. Film producer Anand Pandit noted that "while Imax tickets in major cities often range between an average of ₹800 and ₹1,400, with premium seats crossing much higher for select releases, audiences in smaller towns are far more price-sensitive."
Despite current limitations, there are signs of local content adoption. As reported by Mint, films such as Kalki 2898 AD, Pushpa 2, Kantara: The Legend, and other large-scale Indian productions have demonstrated that audiences are increasingly choosing Imax, 4DX, and other premium experiences for homegrown stories. These films have generated substantial box office returns, with Kalki and Kantara making around ₹700 crore each in India while Pushpa 2 had earned over ₹1,400 crore. For such films, around ₹10-15 crore can come from premium formats. Bijli from PVR Inox added that "as Indian filmmakers continue to push the boundaries of scale, visual storytelling, and technical excellence, we expect domestic cinema to become an even stronger driver of occupancy and growth across premium large-format screens."
Industry experts remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of premium formats in India, with expansion primarily dependent on infrastructure development. According to Mint reports, Ashish Misra noted that "the next phase of growth will depend on expanding infrastructure and developing pricing models that reflect local spending power. Once that balance is achieved, more premium screens may emerge in tier II cities." The growth will be driven by more Hindi and regional films being released in these formats, with Misra adding that "as that pipeline grows, local contribution will increase." The formats are built for scale and spectacle, making them naturally suited for high-budget Hollywood films, though the trend shows growing acceptance of premium experiences for Indian productions as well.
