December 2025 Emerges as Biggest Cinema Month of the Year
December 2025 closed as the biggest month for cinemas in 2025. It also became the third-highest performing month in the post-pandemic era, trailing only August 2023 and December 2023. Industry experts highlight that this surge did not come from Christmas releases alone. Instead, Christmas footfall played a crucial role in driving record admissions.
Two Films Power December's Success
Exhibitors point to two major films that carried the month in contrasting ways. Dhurandhar emerged as the surprise engine of December. This adult, A-rated title crossed ₹800 crore in December alone. It signaled robust demand across weekdays, early-morning shows, and late-night screenings.
At the other end of the spectrum, Avatar: Fire & Ash delivered scale and consistency. The film played across IMAX and every premium format available, including ICE, 4DX, MX4D, and ScreenX. It turned the latter half of December into a distinctly family-friendly box-office stretch.
Exhibitors Reveal Key Drivers
Exhibitors say that together, Dhurandhar and Avatar: Fire & Ash drove December's record admissions. Strong advance bookings and repeat viewings fuelled this success. Ajay Bijli, Managing Director of PVR INOX Limited, notes a renewed enthusiasm from younger audiences. He says Gen Z is embracing cinemas as immersive, social destinations.
More revealing than the numbers was the audience mix. Despite its A rating, Dhurandhar cut across demographics. It drew 18-19-year-olds alongside Gen Z, millennials, and older viewers. Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, Managing Director of Miraj Entertainment Ltd, calls December's performance no accident. He states December was always expected to be one of the strongest months because of these two films.
Sustained Run Lifts Financial Performance
Exhibitors further state that Dhurandhar's real achievement wasn't its opening, but its staying power. Mendiratta explains the film released on December 5 and didn't open big. However, it built remarkable momentum over the following weeks. That sustained run made December one of the strongest-performing months of the financial year. A significant share of revenue came from this single film title.
Raj Bansal, owner of Entertainment Paradise cinema, agrees with this assessment. He says across the country, single-screen theatres allocated almost all shows to Dhurandhar because of its performance. The film completely flipped December expectations for both audiences and exhibitors.
The rise in weekday footfalls, extra shows, and repeat viewings drove December's overall success. This combination created a perfect storm for cinema owners, leading to unprecedented admissions and revenue figures.
