That Cinema Guy

When we think about how cinemas make money, ticket sales and popcorn are usually the first things that come to mind. But there's much more to running a commercially successful cinema.

In this episode of That Cinema Guy, Guyan De Livera explores the different revenue opportunities available to cinemas beyond traditional admissions and concessions.

From memberships and premium experiences to private hires, events and alternative programming, we look at how cinemas can diversify their income, make better use of their spaces and unlock new commercial opportunities.

Drawing on over 20 years of experience in the cinema industry, Guyan shares practical insights into why growing revenue isn't always about attracting more customers. Sometimes it's about making better use of the opportunities already in front of you.

Whether you work in cinema, manage a venue or are simply curious about the business behind the big screen, this episode offers a different perspective on what makes a cinema commercially successful.

We’ve all heard it: cinemas don’t really make their money from tickets. They make it from popcorn.

But is that actually true?

In this episode, I break down how cinemas really generate revenue, from admissions and ticket sales to film rental and concessions, and explain why the answer depends on the type of cinema and its business model.

We’ll look at why admissions remain the engine of the cinema business, why ticket revenue isn’t the same as profit, and how operators think about increasing the value of every customer who walks through the door.

So, do cinemas really make more money from popcorn than tickets?

The answer is a little more complicated than you might think.

Welcome to That Cinema Guy.

In this short introduction, I share a little about who I am, my journey through more than 20 years in the cinema industry, and why I decided to start this podcast.

I’ll also introduce what you can expect from the show from cinema operations, commercial strategy and leadership to the people, experiences and lessons that make this industry so fascinating.

Welcome to That Cinema Guy.