Cineplex Inc. endured a 72 per cent plunge in second-quarter profit as a weaker film slate anchored by the latest Captain America release proved a let-down, but premium movie tickets continued to drive higher average spending on tickets and snacks.

Total attendance for the three months that ended June 30 was 16.9 million, down 14.4 per cent from a year earlier. That was actually slightly better than analysts had predicted, after the performance of the top films was weaker than expected.

The results compare poorly to the second quarter last year in part because of three 2015 films – The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Jurassic World and Furious 7 – which were smash hits at the box office, and each ranked among the seven highest grossing films of all time.

The most popular films in this year’s second quarter – Captain America: Civil War, The Jungle Book and Finding Dory – couldn’t keep pace, and several others underperformed.

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Baloo and Mowgli packed theatres in Q2, but couldn't keep pace with the blockbusters of 2015.

Cineplex can take some comfort in the fact that the average patron continues to shell out more at the gate and at the concession stand. Box office revenue per patron was up 17 cents to $9.62 in the quarter, while concessions spending per patron was up 4.4 per cent to $5.74.

One major reason is that a greater number of moviegoers are choosing premium experiences such as VIP, which provides assigned seating and makes alcoholic drinks available, or UltraAVX, which features enhanced picture and sound. For the first time, premium services made up more than 50 per cent of box office revenue.

“Although box office results for the second quarter were softer than expected, our box office revenue is up 3.7% on a year-to-date basis and there remains an exciting film slate for the remainder of 2016 and 2017,” said Ellis Jacob, Cineplex’s president and chief executive officer, in a statement.

Earnings were $7.2-million, or 12 cents a share, down sharply from $25.5-million, or 40 cents a share, in the same quarter last year.

Revenue also declined by 2.2 per cent, to $338-million, though that was still ahead of analysts’ expectations.

The company has been working to diversify its revenues in order to be less reliant on the peaks and valleys of Hollywood‘s film slate. Revenue from Cineplex’s media businesses rose 14.8 per cent, and revenue from businesses outside the core film exHibition business were “largely in line with our expectations,” said Drew McReynolds, an analyst at RBC Dominion Securities Inc., in a research note.