Cineplex Faces $38.9M Fine for Deceptive Online Booking Fees

The Canadian theater chain plans to appeal the penalty and modify its website to clarify the fee structure for online ticket purchases.

Cineplex was fined $38.9 million by Canada's Competition Tribunal for allegedly misleading consumers with unclear online booking fees.
The company has been charging a $1.50 fee for online ticket purchases since June 2022, which is waived or reduced for loyalty program members.
Cineplex disagrees with the ruling and has filed an appeal, arguing that the fee is disclosed and can be avoided by buying tickets in person.
Despite the fine, Cineplex reported a quarterly revenue of $395.6 million, a decrease from the previous year, alongside a net loss of $24.7 million.
Theater attendance dropped by 15.5% year-over-year, but box office and concession revenue per patron have increased, indicating higher spending per visitor.