Oppenheimer, Barbie releases: PVR Inox hope slashed popcorn rates will drive audiences to theatres

In a move leverage the hype that two mega releases Barbie and Oppenheimer have created in the last one month, leading multiplex chain PVR Inox has slashed food and beverages prices by up to 40%.

The film exhibitor introduced food combos starting from ₹99 from Monday to Thursday between 9 am and 6 pm, while on weekends it has offered bottomless popcorn with “unlimited refills” and “bottomless Pepsi”, the company said.

"Cinephiles who plan to watch films during the weekend can claim bottomless popcorn featuring unlimited tub refills, along with attractively priced Family Meal Combos, bringing down the food & beverages (F&B) spends by as much as 40 per cent," PVR Inox said in a statement.

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According to offer details available for its 'Bestseller @ 99', the offer is not applicable for group bookings or special shows, and could be purchased offline only. The combo will also not be available in any of its luxury cinema formats like LUXE/Gold and TLC cinemas as Director’s Cut.

Earlier, a tub of cheese popcorn was available at PVR Inox for Rs 450, while 600-ml soft drinks would cost Rs 360.

The company’s price cut comes more than 10 days after a social media user complained about the exorbitant prices of its F&B.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie—based on the iconic doll created by Ruth Handler in 1959—is poised to make her grand debut into the world of cinema. The movie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Releasing on July 21, the movie will go up against filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy in the lead.

According to BookMyShow, advance sales of Oppenheimer tickets have crossed 300,000, while for Barbie it was 54,000 tickets. Around 90,000 tickets of Oppenheimer have been sold for day one across PVR, INOX and Cinepolis while for Barbie it is 16,000, according to experts.