TORONTO — A strong film slate and theatre presentations of FIFA World Cup matches helped Cineplex Inc. swing to a profit in its most recent quarter.

“This quarter’s success was not dependent on a single blockbuster or a small number of tentpole releases. Instead, consumers embraced a broad range of compelling content across multiple genres and formats,” Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob said on the company’s earnings call.

He said family films were a significant driver, with the release of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and “Toy Story 5.” Meanwhile, he said “Michael,” which chronicles the life of pop superstar Michael Jackson, became the highest-grossing biopic ever.

He said the quarter showcased one of the most diverse content slates it has seen in years.

“There are five movies that have done over a billion dollars already with ‘Odyssey,’ ‘Spider-Man,’ ‘Super Mario,’ ‘Michael,’ and ‘Toy Story 5,'” Jacob said in an interview.

He also said the company benefited from gen Z customers returning to movie theatres, with that demographic flocking to films like “Obsession” and “Backrooms.”

“It definitely helps the bottom line because it’s very positive, and it’s the audience that we most want to come back. What we are seeing is that statistics for the industry are saying that they are coming back in a big way,” Jacob said.

The company also screened certain World Cup games at its theatres during the quarter through its partnership with TSN.

“It did really well for us at the theatres and it introduces our guests to other events other than just movies,” Jacob said.

On the earnings call, he said Cineplex was the only company in Canada offering fans the opportunity to see matches on the big screen, and one of only a “handful” across North America providing the experience at scale.

Jacob added that showing those FIFA matches “demonstrated the broader opportunity for Cineplex to be part of large cultural moments.”

On Tuesday, Cineplex reported a profit of $7.8 million in its second quarter compared with a loss of $2.2 million a year earlier as it posted its highest second-quarter total revenue ever.

Its earnings amounted to 12 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, an improvement from a loss of three cents per diluted share a year earlier.

Revenue totalled $383.7 million for the quarter, up from $349.3 million in the second quarter of 2025.

However, Cineplex shares were down more than six per cent in early afternoon trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

RBC analyst Drew McReynolds said in a note to investors Tuesday that revenue came in at forecasted levels, but the company fell short on adjusted profit.

“Given the recent run-up in the stock against the backdrop of continued box office strength in third quarter 2026, we view second quarter 2026 results as a modest negative for the shares at current levels,” the note reads.

Cineplex said theatre attendance amounted to 12.7 million patrons, up from 11.6 million a year earlier.

Box office revenue per patron was $13.91, up from $13.68 in the same quarter last year, while concession revenue per patron was $10.26, up from $10.04.

The second-quarter results cover the period prior to the release of “The Odyssey,” Christopher Nolan’s mythic action film detailing a king’s battle to return home. The roughly three-hour film has had moviegoers flocking to cinemas, especially ones equipped with Imax 70 mm technology.

“The Odyssey opened to 124 million domestically, with Cineplex overindexing the market and operating three of the top 20 theatres in North America. Demand for premium experiences has been exceptional, including sold-out Imax 70 mm presentations throughout the film’s run,” Jacob said.

In June, the company announced Jacob will be retiring from the top job at the end of 2026 as the board continues to conduct a search for a successor.

“Our focus continues to remain on strengthening and growing the business and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and I think the year is going to be quite strong for us at Cineplex,” Jacob said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2026.

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