PVR INOX Pictures

Overview

PVR INOX Pictures is the distribution arm of PVR INOX, India's largest cinema chain operator. The company distributes Indian and international films across its exhibition network and to third-party screens nationwide. PVR INOX operates 1,798 screens across 359 sites in more than 110 cities as of July 2026. The parent company reported annual revenues of $700 million (INR 67.43 billion) for the financial year ending March 2026, with $40 million (INR 3.87 billion) in profit. Ticket sales account for 52% of revenue, with food and beverages contributing approximately 30%.

The distribution arm is led by Kamal Gianchandani as CEO, with Nayana Bijli as Director of Distribution and Licensing. The company distributed 124 films in the last financial year, split between 52 international titles, 52 regional films, and 20 Hindi releases. In the current financial year (April through November), 78 films have already been released: 42 international, 26 regional, and 10 Hindi. The distribution segment contributes 5 to 10 percent of PVR INOX's overall revenues.

Distribution Model and Studio Partnerships

PVR INOX Pictures operates a vertically integrated distribution model. Because the parent company owns the exhibition infrastructure, a distribution deal with PVR INOX provides immediate access to the largest screen footprint in India. The company has output deals and ongoing partnerships with A24, Lionsgate, Anton, Black Bear, FilmNation, Neon, Medialink, and TV Asahi. These partnerships allow PVR INOX to bring Hollywood titles, independent films, and anime to Indian screens on a consistent basis.

The 2025-2026 Hollywood slate includes five A24 titles: The Riders (Brad Pitt), The Drama (Robert Pattinson and Zendaya), Marty Supreme (Timothee Chalamet), Onslaught (Adria Arjona and Dan Stevens), and Sorry Baby (Eva Victor). From Lionsgate: The Strangers: Chapter 2, SAW 11, Now You See Me: Now You Don't, and Good Fortune (Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen). From Neon: The Housewife (Naomi Watts) and three horror films acquired at Cannes 2026: 4x4: The Event, It Ends, and The Young People (starring Nicole Kidman). From Black Bear: Guy Ritchie's The Wife & Dog (Benedict Cumberbatch, Anthony Hopkins, Rosamund Pike), Greenland: Migration (Gerard Butler), Relay (Lily James, Riz Ahmed), Afterburn (Samuel L. Jackson), Fred & Ginger (Margaret Qualley), Famous (Zac Efron), and I Want Your Sex (Olivia Wilde).

Cannes 2026 Acquisitions

At the 2026 Cannes Marche du Film, PVR INOX Pictures acquired multiple packages. From Patrick Wachsberger's 193: Fernando Meirelles' Art (starring Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell, and Wagner Moura) and Doug Liman's Bitcoin (Gal Gadot and Casey Affleck). From FilmNation: five titles including Last Dance (Karim Ainouz, starring Rachel Zegler), Asymmetry (Edward Zwick, Richard Gere), The Passenger (Magnus von Horn, Jeremy Strong), 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank (Liam Neeson), and Wildwood (animation, voice cast including Carey Mulligan and Mahershala Ali). The company also released Marty Supreme for A24 in India, which performed well, and acquired Paper Tiger out of Cannes.

Regional Cinema and Independent Distribution

Beyond international titles, PVR INOX Pictures is expanding its regional cinema slate. The company released 24 Bengali films in the current financial year and is actively acquiring Malayalam, Tamil, and other South Indian language films. The pan-India success of South Indian content has informed the distribution strategy, with regional content expected to grow the overall distribution pie.

In February 2026, PVR INOX launched the MAMI Independent weekly screening series in partnership with the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), running every Wednesday at PVR Lido in Mumbai. The series programs international arthouse films (such as No Other Choice and Sentimental Value) and independent Indian cinema across languages including Ladakhi, Khasi, Kashmiri, and Malayalam. CEO Kamal Gianchandani has stated that PVR INOX Pictures views the series as a discovery mechanism for national theatrical distribution, with the distribution arm prepared to roll out standout titles across India. The April 2026 lineup included Sundance winner Nocturnes, Moscow topper The Elysian Field, and Shanghai winner Victoria.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For international filmmakers and distributors seeking Indian theatrical distribution, PVR INOX Pictures provides the most direct route to national screen access in India. The company's output deals with major independent studios (A24, Lionsgate, Neon, Black Bear, FilmNation) mean that films from these studios are automatically routed through PVR INOX for Indian release. For films outside these partnerships, the company acquires at Cannes, EFM, AFM, and through direct sales agent relationships.

Films that perform best in the Indian theatrical market through PVR INOX fall into several categories: action films (which cross language barriers and can be dubbed into Hindi and regional languages), anime (a growing segment), prestige Hollywood titles with star power, and films with Indian cultural resonance (such as Gurinder Chadhas Christmas Karma, released across approximately 100 screens in urban clusters). The company is also increasingly interested in Indian independent cinema that can transition from the MAMI Independent series to wider theatrical release.

For Indian filmmakers working outside the mainstream Bollywood production system, PVR INOX Pictures' regional distribution activity provides an alternative to the major production house distribution arms. The company's 24 Bengali releases in a single year demonstrate its commitment to non-Hindi cinema. Screen access, which has historically been a bottleneck for independent Indian filmmakers, is less of a constraint given India's recently crossed 10,000-screen milestone.

See Also

For how Indian theatrical distribution works within the broader South Asian territory sales context, see Distribution Deals Explained. For Indian and South Asian film festivals relevant to Indian distribution strategy, see the Film Festivals Directory. To model theatrical revenue from an Indian distribution deal, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.