Lionsgate Revenue Soars 41% as Library IP Drives Earnings Turnaround

Lionsgate reported a sharply higher revenue figure and a narrower loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2027, with its film and television library serving as the primary engine of growth. The studio posted overall revenues of $668.8 million, a 41 percent increase from the year-earlier period of $475.1 million. This performance exceeded analyst expectations, which had projected $627.6 million in revenue. The net loss attributable to shareholders narrowed to $15.5 million, down from a $113.5 million loss in the same quarter last year.

The financial strength stems largely from the monetization of a 20,000-title portfolio. Over the trailing 12 months, the library generated $1.04 billion, marking the second highest quarterly watermark for the division. Active franchises like John Wick and The Hunger Games, alongside legacy brands such as Twilight and La La Land, continue to drive income. Recent licensing agreements include a deal with Netflix for the first four series from the Power franchise, a North American tour for the Dirty Dancing musical, and a stage musical version of La La Land in development for a 2028 opening.

CEO Jon Feltheimer addressed the drivers of this growth during an after-market call on Thursday. He cited the Hunger Games franchise, the Canadian drama Heartland, and Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair as key contributors. Feltheimer also discussed a partnership with Meta to bring the latest Hunger Games film to Mark Zuckerberg’s VR glasses after its theatrical run. He stated that other collaborations are in discussion, noting that Meta has the potential to become a major player in the content area.

The studio’s motion picture segment saw revenue jump 30 percent to $359.3 million, while TV production revenue rose 56 percent to $309.5 million. Motion picture segment profit reached $88.7 million, up from $30.5 million a year ago. TV production segment profit increased to $21.6 million from $12.5 million. These gains were fueled by the release of the Michael biopic and strong library performance, as well as increased episodic deliveries for shows like The Hunting Wives and The Studio.

Takeover chatter on Wall Street has persisted since the studio split from the Starz premium cable service. Reports indicate that Legendary submitted a takeover offer, though Feltheimer declined to respond directly to the speculation. He affirmed that the company is well positioned in a consolidating environment, citing strong content slates and a deep portfolio of branded IP. He expressed confidence in the earnings power of the film slate over the next three years, pointing to upcoming releases like The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping and Resurrection of The Christ Parts 1 and 2.

Upcoming projects include a John Wick animated prequel directed by Shannon Tindle, with Keanu Reeves returning to the role. The feature will be produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, along with 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski. Additionally, development is ongoing for a Michael sequel, with the creative team currently being assembled. The studio also announced that it has begun preproduction on the animated prequel, a project first discussed at CinemaCon in 2025.

COO Brian Goldsmith highlighted the integration of artificial intelligence tools across the organization to improve efficiency and productivity. He stated that the goal is to maximize efficiency while creating commercial products. Kevin Beggs, chair of the Lionsgate TV Group, noted that the TV division is doing substantial business with the enlarged Paramount Skydance studio. He described the partner as a strong buyer that is moving quickly to ramp up operations, a sentiment echoed by Feltheimer regarding the new partnership under Skydance CEO David Ellison.