Special Report: It is cheaper to watch Avatar: The Way Of Water in IMAX in Europe, USA and UAE than in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune

By Fenil Seta -

December 7, 2022 - 12:35 PM IST

The much-awaited film, Avatar: The Way Of Water is just a week away from release and the excitement is palpable. Even in India, the buzz is high but what has dampened the mood for moviegoers is the sky-high ticket prices. A film of this kind, made on a spectacular case, can be enjoyed on the giant IMAX screen. However, the price of the Avatar: The Way Of Water’s ticket in IMAX in India is at unheard-of levels.

Special Report: It is cheaper to watch Avatar: The Way Of Water in IMAX in Europe, USA and UAE than in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune

Bollywood Hungama went through the ticket prices of all IMAX theatres in India. In Mumbai, the cheapest IMAX ticket is available in Cinepolis, Seawoods, priced at Rs. 500 and Rs. 550. PVR, Lower Parel, meanwhile is selling the most expensive tickets at Rs. 1000, Rs. 1700 and Rs. 1750. In Delhi, the least expensive ticket is available at PVR Ambience, Gurgaon, at Rs. 700. The costliest ticket in the National Capital Region is in PVR Select City Walk, available at Rs. 1200 and Rs. 2500. In Bengaluru, the cheapest ticket is priced at Rs. 870, at INOX Galleria Mall, Yelahanka. And in Cinepolis Nexus Shantiniketan, you’ll have to shell out as much as Rs. 1600, Rs. 1650 or Rs. 1700 to watch the film. Pune has just one IMAX theatre and taking advantage of it, the cheapest ticket starts at Rs. 1050 while the most expensive ticket is priced at Rs. 1300.

Thankfully, there are a few exceptions. In Chennai, the lone IMAX screen at SPI Palazzo is selling tickets for just Rs. 543.82, due to price cap rules. There’s no such policy in Lucknow and yet, you can watch Avatar: The Way Of Water at Inox Megaplex at Rs. 450 or Rs. 700. In Kolkata’s Inox South City, while the cheapest ticket is at Rs. 600, the most expensive ticket is sold for Rs. 870.

In short, on average, one is expected to shell in around Rs. 1000 to watch Avatar: The Way Of Water in IMAX in the opening weekend in India. Interestingly, it’ll be cheaper to watch Avatar: The Way Of Water in Europe, the USA or the UAE. The ticket prices in most screens in these regions are more expensive than in India. But if we consider factors like cost of living, purchasing power parity and average ticket price, then it becomes clear that watching Avatar: The Way Of Water in IMAX is dearer in our country.

To give an idea, Bollywood Hungama checked the ticket prices of some IMAX cinemas in major countries around the world. For instance, in Cineplexx Graz, Austria, the price of the normal, non-recliner seat is 20.30 euros (Rs. 1760). In Pathe Conflans, France, it's 22.6 euros (Rs. 1958), in Kinepolis Brussels, it’s 21.90 euros (Rs. 1891) while in Filmpalast, ZKM IMAX, Germany, the tickets are available for 15 pounds (Rs. 1230). In countries which are more expensive than these nations, the ticket prices are also steeper, like Finnkino Itis IMAX, Helsinki, Finland (24.90 euros; Rs. 2157), Pathé Mall of Switzerland (30.90 Swiss francs; Rs. 2706), Tsim Sha Tsui iSQUARE, Hong Kong (HK$ 250; Rs. 2651). In UAE, the cheapest ticket is available at Vox Cinemas Nakheel Mall, Dubai for AED 60 (Rs. 1347) while the costliest is AED 100 (Rs. 2245) at Vox Cinemas The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi.

In the grand BFI IMAX, London, you can watch Avatar: The Way Of Water by shelling out 23 pounds (Rs. 2313). In Manchester's Vue cinemas The Printworks, the tickets cost 14.99 pounds (Rs. 1507). Speaking of the USA, in AMC Century City 15 Los Angeles, the ticket prices range between $20.39 (Rs. 1681) and $26.49 (Rs. 2185). In Regal New Roc, New York, the rates are a steep $26.49 (Rs. 2185) and $27.75 (Rs. 2289). In the largest IMAX screen in the USA at AMC Lincoln Square 13, New York, the tickets are sold for $28.99 (Rs. 2391). Finally, in the second-largest IMAX screen in the world, located at Melbourne, Australia, the tickets are available for AUD 38 (Rs. 2097).

Considering the high cost of living in these countries, it becomes clear that the ticket prices of Avatar: The Way Of Water in IMAX screens in India are higher. To quote an industry insider, “Even in these countries, the ticket prices increase for event films. But it is hiked by $1 or 1 pound generally. In India, it increases by many notches. Even in the past, rates were inflated for films like Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Now that the ticket prices have reached four digits in the case of Avatar: The Way Of Water, it has finally hit how much audiences have to shell out to get the ultimate IMAX experience for the James Cameron directorial.”

However, just like the ticket rates, the buzz for Avatar: The Way Of Water is also skyhigh in India. This is why several shows are sold out or almost full, though the release of the film is almost a week away. Hence, trade pundits expect Avatar: The Way Of Water to have a record-breaking opening or it could embark on one of the biggest openings ever thanks to the hype and of course, the ticket cost.

Also Read: Avatar: The Way Of Water: James Cameron reveals how he filmed underwater performances of Kate Winslet and Sigourney Weaver in a 250,00 gallon tank