New Rule: Multiplex Movie Ticket Just Rs 200!

The Karnataka government has taken a bold step by capping movie ticket prices at ₹200 across all cinema halls, including multiplexes and single screens. This sudden move has shocked the film exhibition industry, especially in major cities like Bengaluru.

Until now, multiplexes in cities like Bengaluru used flexible pricing to charge premium rates, especially for Hollywood or big Indian films. As a result, regular moviegoers often found it too expensive to watch films on the big screen, particularly in urban areas like Hubballi, Dharwad, and Belagavi.

This price cap is being welcomed by the average audience, as it makes cinema more affordable. However, the multiplex association is reportedly considering legal action, as they believe ₹200 is too low to cover costs, especially for premium theatres. Even top stars like Mahesh Babu are investing in new large-scale multiplex chains, and such restrictions may impact their business models.

There’s also concern about a possible rise in black market sales. With ticket prices fixed, some fear that theatre owners may unofficially sell tickets at higher rates. To prevent this, authorities might need to step in and strictly monitor the situation.

While this decision may not hurt small or mid-budget films, it could impact big pan-India releases. Telugu and Tamil films often perform strongly in Karnataka, sometimes even better than local Kannada films. Blockbusters like Pushpa 2 and Leo did massive business here, and replicating that under strict pricing could be difficult.

If similar price control models are adopted in other states too, it could seriously affect the overall box office revenue across the South Indian film industry.