The Kinepolis group posted sales of €285.3 million in the first half of the year, up 25.1% on the same period last year, according to corporate results published on Thursday.
Its net profit, meanwhile, more than doubled to €20.8 million from €9.1 million in 2022.
A total of 16.8 million cinema-goers visited the group's cinemas in eight countries, including Belgium, France and the United States, 22.8% more than in the same period last year. These figures represent 94.7% of visitors in the first half of 2019 (the period before the pandemic). Without the acquisition of new cinemas, these figures would only represent 74.8% of the spectators welcomed in 2019.
As for the income generated by spectators, this has increased, respectively by 26.5% for ticket sales and 30.1% for the purchase of drinks and snacks. These two items generated €244.6 million.
The Group's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation also increased to €82 million, compared with €68.2 million in the first half of 2022.
The most-viewed films during this period were 'Super Mario Bros', 'Avatar 2', 'Guardians of the Galaxy 3', 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' and 'Fast & Furious X'.
Unsurprisingly, cinemas should be boosted in the second quarter by the two summer blockbusters: Barbie and Oppenheimer.
The group is not concerned about the consequences of the Hollywood strike.
"The exact impact will depend on how long the strike lasts and individual studio decisions. However, there is plenty of film content in the pipeline and Kinepolis is confident in its ability to fill its cinemas with quality local and international films."
