Warner Bros. Hits the Brakes on India Screens Over ‘F1’ Snub

June 27, 2025: Tensions are escalating between Warner Bros. and India’s largest multiplex chain, PVR Inox, over the allocation of screens for the much-anticipated F1: The Movie starring Brad Pitt. Just days ahead of its release, Warner Bros. has reportedly accused PVR Inox of favouring domestic films over international titles, sparking industry-wide conversation.

At the centre of the controversy is the screen distribution for two Bollywood films—Aamir Khan’s “Sitaare Zameen Par”, currently running successfully since June 20, and Kajol’s mythological horror film “Maa”, releasing today. Both are being distributed by PVR Inox Pictures. Warner Bros. alleges that the chain is giving disproportionate screen time to these Bollywood productions, leaving its big-ticket Hollywood film F1 with fewer prime-time slots and screens.

According to sources close to the matter, Warner Bros. has issued a strong warning to PVR Inox, demanding fair screen allocation—not just for F1, but also for its future releases including “Jurassic World Rebirth” and the upcoming Superman reboot. The studio has reportedly threatened to withhold these films from the multiplex chain if its demands are not met.

“Warner felt that they were getting unfair treatment. They also got a sense that PVR Inox was giving them a raw deal and prioritising films distributed by its own arm,” said a source to Bollywood Hungama.

While Warner Bros. is leaning on its upcoming blockbusters to gain leverage, skipping PVR Inox entirely would be a major risk, as the chain is the country’s largest and a key contributor to box office revenues.

Industry insiders note that this isn’t the first time such friction has surfaced. PVR Inox has previously been criticised for favouring star-led Indian content, especially when competing with Hollywood titles—even when the latter have significant buzz and global appeal.

As things stand, F1: The Movie is set to hit screens today, June 27, 2025. Despite glowing early reviews and a 90% critic score, it remains uncertain whether it will be able to match its box office potential in India due to limited screen availability.

Negotiations between Warner Bros. and PVR Inox are reportedly ongoing. Whether the conflict will lead to a broader rethink on screen allocation practices in Indian multiplexes remains to be seen.