Lionsgate reported revenue of $670.5 million, adjusted EBITDA of $53.6 million, adjusted net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $66.8 million or adjusted EPS of $0.45, and net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $40.7 million or EPS of $0.27 for the fiscal 2024 third quarter ended December 31, 2024. Free cash flow in the quarter rose to $73.9 million.
“While the performance of our theatrical film slate resulted in softer than anticipated results, our other businesses performed strongly in the quarter,” said Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer. “With our television business continuing its robust topline and margin growth, a deeper and more diversified film slate with lower costs and contributions anticipated from recently launched businesses, we have a clear path to resume our strong and sustainable financial trajectory in fiscal 2024.”
Adjusted net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $66.8 million or $0.45 adjusted EPS for the quarter compared to adjusted net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $110.0 million or adjusted EPS of $0.79 in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA of $53.6 million compared to adjusted EBITDA of $146.8 million in the prior year quarter.
Net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders for the quarter was $40.7 million or EPS of $0.27 on 149.5 million weighted average number of common shares outstanding compared to net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $98.2 million or EPS of $0.70 on 140.0 million weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the prior year quarter.
Free cash flow of $73.9 million in the quarter increased from negative free cash flow of $4.6 million in the prior year quarter.
Revenue of $670.5 million for the quarter compared to revenue of $751.3 million in the prior year quarter.
Revenue, adjusted EBITDA and EPS in the quarter declined from the prior year quarter due to the performance of the theatrical film slate. Although The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 2 grossed over $650 million at the global box office, ranking it among the highest-grossing films of the year, its box office performance declined from Mockingjay 1 with higher Mockingjay 2 production costs also impacting its profitability.
During the quarter, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per common share payable on February 5, 2024 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2024.
Lionsgate’s filmed entertainment backlog, or already contracted future revenue not yet recorded, was approximately $1.3 billion at December 31, 2024, increasing from $1.2 billion at September 30, 2024.
Overall Motion Picture segment revenue for the quarter was $505.8 million compared to $590.1 million in the prior year quarter. Although theatrical revenue of $183.1 million was comparable to $186.4 million in the prior year quarter, margins were lower due in part to theatrical P&A expenses associated with four wide film releases in the quarter compared to two wide film releases in the prior year quarter.
Lionsgate’s home entertainment revenue from motion picture and television production for the quarter was $142.0 compared to $183.1 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting the composition and timing of the slate of wide release theatrical titles. This offset increased home entertainment revenue from television production in the quarter.
Television revenue included in the Motion Picture segment of $48.6 million in the quarter compared to $82.9 million in the prior year quarter due to timing of titles with television windows opening in the period. The Hunger Games opened in its network television window in the prior year quarter.
International Motion Picture segment revenue of $140.1 million for the quarter compared to $142.1 million in the prior year quarter.
Television production segment revenue of $164.7 million increased from $161.2 million in the prior year quarter. Margins in the Company’s television business continued their growth trajectory in the quarter. Domestic television revenues were affected by timing of deliveries in the quarter. Deliveries of the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black, Nashville and The Royals are expected to drive strong growth in the fourth quarter along with the first full quarter of results from Pilgrim Studios, in which Lionsgate acquired a majority stake in November 2024.
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