By Meghna Sharma On a busy Friday evening, the movie often begins long before the lights go down. Families queue beside glowing digital posters, college groups debate the best row, popcorn counters are packed, and audiences choose between recliners, IMAX, 4DX and giant-format screens. The modern multiplex is no longer just a hall where a film is projected. For many Indians, it has become a complete night out built around comfort, food, technology and the shared excitement of watching a new release with a crowd.
That experience is spreading far beyond the biggest malls and metros. India’s multiplex box office recorded strong growth during the first half of 2026, while major operators continued adding screens in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. Yet the industry remains highly uneven: one company operates well over a thousand screens, while several important competitors are regional or mid-sized chains. Screen count alone therefore cannot decide this ranking. City reach, brand strength, expansion momentum, premium formats and overall importance to India’s theatrical exhibition market also matter. Based on those factors, here are the Top 10 Multiplex Chains in India in 2026.
1. PVR INOX
PVR INOX is by far India’s largest multiplex operator and the clear No. 1 chain in 2026. The business was formed through the merger of PVR and INOX Leisure, bringing two of the country’s biggest cinema brands under one company. As of June 30, 2026, PVR INOX operated 1,779 screens across 113 cities in India and Sri Lanka. A six-screen opening in Bengaluru in August subsequently took the network to 1,786 screens across 356 properties.
Its advantage goes well beyond size. The company operates formats such as IMAX, 4DX, ScreenX, P[XL], ICE, Insignia and Director’s Cut, allowing it to serve everything from regular moviegoers to luxury-cinema customers. It is also experimenting with capital-light expansion and smaller-market concepts such as SMART Cinema. That mix of national reach, premium technology and continued expansion makes PVR INOX the benchmark for organised film exhibition in India.
2. Cinépolis India
Cinépolis is India’s second-largest major multiplex network and the strongest international challenger to PVR INOX. The Mexican-origin cinema company expanded to 489 screens across 41 Indian cities after opening a five-screen multiplex in Dwarka, Delhi, in March 2026. Its newer properties increasingly follow what the company describes as a future-ready cinema approach, with improved projection, sound, seating and food-and-beverage areas.
Cinépolis has also introduced premium experiences including IMAX, 4DX, VIP, ScreenX and Onyx at selected Indian locations. Its network remains particularly strong in malls and major urban centres, but expansion into newer markets is broadening the brand’s reach. International operating experience combined with nearly 500 Indian screens gives Cinépolis a comfortable No. 2 position.
3. Miraj Cinemas
Miraj Cinemas is one of the biggest success stories among home-grown multiplex operators. The company entered film exhibition in 2012 and now reports 220 screens across 49 cities and 17 states. Its presence extends from large markets such as Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bengaluru to numerous Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Miraj has increasingly invested in better seating, upgraded sound and premium viewing rather than competing only through affordable ticket pricing. Its expansion into cities often underserved by the biggest multiplex operators has been particularly important. A genuinely multi-state network and strong growth outside the traditional metro circuit make Miraj the leading large Indian-origin challenger to PVR INOX and Cinépolis.
4. Rajhans Cinemas
Rajhans Cinemas has grown from its roots in Surat into one of western India’s largest multiplex operators. The Rajhans Group currently reports more than 160 screens across 35 multiplexes. Gujarat remains the heart of the chain, but its cinema footprint has expanded into markets outside the state as well.
The chain combines mainstream pricing with increasingly premium facilities, including modern projection, enhanced sound, recliners and upgraded food offerings at selected properties. Rajhans has also invested in premium screen experiences. Its extraordinarily strong Gujarat network, together with expansion into other states, gives it far greater importance than its regional origins might suggest.
5. MovieMax
MovieMax has become one of the fastest-rising multiplex brands in the country since Cineline India relaunched its cinema exhibition business under the MovieMax name. By the end of FY2025-26, the company reported 85 operational screens across 22 cinemas in 15 cities, with more than 21,000 seats.
The chain is also moving beyond ordinary multiplex formats. MovieMax Edition features an all-recliner experience, while its Infinity concept focuses on a larger and more immersive auditorium. Cineline is using capital-light and revenue-sharing models as part of its growth strategy, which could allow MovieMax to expand faster without depending entirely on expensive conventional leases.
6. Mukta A2 Cinemas
Mukta A2 Cinemas, promoted by filmmaker Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts group, has built a substantial network around accessible multiplex entertainment. Mukta Arts reported that the cinema business closed FY2024-25 with 73 screens across 26 locations. The company has also worked through a joint venture with Asian Cinemas and has an international presence in Bahrain.
Mukta A2 operates across major as well as smaller urban markets. Its positioning is less about ultra-luxury cinema and more about giving audiences a modern multiplex experience at relatively accessible prices. That strategy has helped it remain relevant even as India’s exhibition industry has become increasingly concentrated around a few very large operators.
7. MovieTime Cinemas
MovieTime is one of the older independent multiplex brands still operating at meaningful scale in India. Established in 1998, the company currently describes a network of more than 60 screens across over 20 locations. Its footprint includes cinemas in markets across Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
The brand has largely built its identity around value-for-money moviegoing rather than luxury alone. Its properties typically combine modern projection and sound with mainstream pricing. MovieTime’s ability to remain active across several regions despite competition from much larger operators earns it a place among India’s notable multiplex chains.
8. Devgn CineX
Devgn CineX, previously known as NY Cinemas, is the Ajay Devgn-backed multiplex business that has recently moved towards a more premium identity. Its official platform says the company is operational with 57 screens in markets including Mumbai, Gurugram, Ahmedabad and Guwahati, and it has set an ambitious goal of reaching 250 screens by 2030.
The company is trying to create cinemas that retain elements of local character while upgrading seating, food and beverage offerings and screen technology. Its strategy includes both emerging cities and affluent urban catchments. Although Devgn CineX is still much smaller than the industry leaders, its expansion plans and differentiated branding make it one of the chains worth watching.
9. Wave Cinemas
Wave Cinemas remains one of North India’s best-known regional multiplex brands. Its official network includes 11 multiplexes and 46 screens, with locations in markets such as Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Haridwar and Rudrapur. The chain has been operating since 2004 and is closely associated with Wave Group’s wider commercial and entertainment businesses.
Wave focuses on comfortable seating, modern projection and sound, premium seating options and food and beverage services. Its geographical reach is much narrower than PVR INOX or Cinépolis, but within Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand it remains a familiar multiplex name with a sizeable regional presence.
10. Gold Cinema
Gold Cinema rounds out the top 10 as a value-oriented chain with a surprisingly broad regional footprint. Its current cinema locator shows operations across states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra is particularly important to its network, with several cinemas across Mumbai and other cities.
The chain has continued expanding during 2026, including the launch of its first multiplex in Jaipur. Gold Cinema does not yet have the screen count or premium-format portfolio of the industry leaders, but it plays an important role in neighbourhood and smaller-city exhibition. Its presence across numerous states gives it an advantage over many independent cinema brands confined to a single metropolitan region.
Conclusion
India’s multiplex industry in 2026 may have one enormous leader, but it is far from being a one-company market. PVR INOX operates at a scale no rival currently approaches, Cinépolis provides the strongest national competition, and Miraj has emerged as a formidable home-grown challenger. Rajhans dominates much of its western Indian heartland, while MovieMax is expanding quickly and chains such as Mukta A2, MovieTime, Devgn CineX and Wave continue to occupy important regional and value segments.
The next battle is likely to be fought increasingly outside the biggest metro malls. Streaming has made watching a film at home easier than ever, so multiplex chains need to give customers a reason to leave the sofa. Better screens, stronger sound, recliners, interesting food, sensible pricing and cinemas closer to home will all matter. The operators that can make a trip to the movies feel special without turning it into an unaffordable luxury are likely to gain the most ground.
FAQs
Q1. Are PVR and INOX still separate multiplex chains?
No. PVR Limited and INOX Leisure completed their merger in 2023 and now operate as PVR INOX Limited. Individual theatres may continue to carry PVR or INOX branding, but they belong to the same company and should not be counted as two different multiplex chains in a 2026 ranking.
Q2. Why can tickets for the same movie cost different amounts at different multiplexes?
Ticket prices depend on the city, cinema location, day, show timing, seat category, demand and auditorium format. A weekend evening show in a premium auditorium can therefore cost considerably more than a weekday morning show of the same film.
Q3. What should viewers know before paying extra for IMAX, 4DX or another premium format?
Premium formats do different things. IMAX concentrates mainly on image scale, projection and immersive audio, while 4DX adds moving seats and environmental effects. Other large-format screens may emphasise screen size, projection, sound or luxury seating. Check the exact auditorium rather than assuming every premium-labelled screen offers the same experience.
Q4. Can online multiplex tickets always be cancelled?
Not necessarily. Cancellation and refund rules vary by cinema chain, booking platform and how close the cancellation is to showtime. Some tickets may be refundable within a specified window, while others are non-refundable. Convenience fees may also have separate refund conditions, so it is worth checking the policy before payment.
Q5. How should someone choose the best multiplex for a big-budget film?
Look at the specific auditorium, not only the multiplex brand. Screen size, projector quality, sound system, seating layout and maintenance can make a major difference. A good premium large-format auditorium may be worthwhile for visually ambitious action or science-fiction films, while a well-maintained standard screen can offer better value for dramas, comedies and smaller releases.