Supreme Court Pushes Back on Multiplex Pricing: Water at ₹100, Coffee at ₹700 Could Empty Auditoriums

The Supreme Court criticized multiplex food-prices, warning that charging ₹100 for water and ₹700 for coffee is “excessive” and could discourage moviegoers unless rates become reasonable.

New Delhi | November 06, 2025: The Supreme Court has flagged steep pricing in multiplexes as a growing concern for consumer access to cinema. During a hearing challenging Karnataka-state rules, Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta pointed out that cinemas are charging ₹100 for a simple bottle of water and ₹700 for a cup of coffee — charges that make moviegoing prohibitively expensive for many.

The remarks came in the context of a legal dispute over a Karnataka High Court directive that ordered multiplexes to maintain auditable records for every ticket sale. That High Court order is now temporarily stayed by the Supreme Court.

The bench warned that if ticket and food-service costs remain unreasonably high, multiplexes risk alienating audiences — and could see attendance drop. “Cinema is on the decline,” one Justice noted, urging pricing reforms to keep theatres accessible.

While the court has not yet put a strict cap on concession-stand prices, it emphasized that any excessive mark-ups undermine the purpose of public entertainment. It has issued notices to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders and scheduled further hearings.

The case continues on November 25, when the Court will review whether these pricing practices are fair or require regulatory intervention.

Follow us On Our Social media Handles :
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter

Also Read- Pune