Memorandum
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- Caroline Mercer via Variety
- Date
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- Business·3 min to read
- Re
Lionsgate revenue jumps 41% on Michael and TV sales, narrowing net loss
ReLionsgate revenue jumps 41% on Michael and TV sales, narrowing net loss
Lionsgate Studios reported quarterly revenue of $668.8 million, up 41% from a year earlier, driven by the Michael biopic and television series sales. The company swung to operating income and narrowed its net loss, beating Wall Street forecasts.
Lionsgate Studios posted quarterly revenue of $668.8 million for the period ended September 30, 2026, a 41% increase from the same quarter a year earlier. The growth was driven largely by Michael, the studio's biopic of Michael Jackson, together with sales of television series. The results came in ahead of Wall Street forecasts.
The studio also swung to operating income of $29.1 million, compared with an operating loss in the prior-year period. Its net loss narrowed to $15.5 million from $113.5 million a year earlier, a reduction of roughly $98 million. Revenue growth was reported across the company's film, television and library segments, which means the improvement was not confined to a single release or sales window.
The quarter marks the second quarter of fiscal 2026 for Lionsgate Studios, which operates as a standalone public company after separating from Starz in 2025. The separation gave the studio its own public listing, and this report is the first full set of results to show a sharp improvement in profitability as an independent company. Investors had been watching closely to see whether the business could generate earnings on its own without its former parent.
The company has also drawn heated takeover speculation in recent months, a backdrop that adds attention to any sign of financial recovery. A stronger balance sheet and a visible earnings turn could affect how the company is valued by investors and by any party weighing a bid. The company's standalone status and its film and television catalog are the assets at the center of that debate.
The filings leave open how much of the quarter's gain will last. The results do not make clear how much reflects one-time items, such as a single title's performance, versus recurring business from the library and ongoing television licensing. That distinction will matter for judging whether the turnaround can be sustained into the coming quarters.
Coverage of the figures also varied slightly, with some accounts citing revenue of $667 million rather than $668.8 million. The $668.8 million figure is the one used here, since it is the amount reported for the quarter ended September 30.
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