Australian cinemas enjoyed a strong end-of-year surge over the Christmas and Boxing Day period, with audiences returning in force for a slate of franchise fare, family titles and star-driven releases.
The four-day festive weekend delivered $21.3 million at the Australian box office, up 16.2% on the previous week. Across Christmas Day and Boxing Day alone, takings climbed 35% year-on-year to more than $8.46 million, underlining renewed momentum for the local theatrical market.
HOYTS CEO Damian Keogh said the results point to a sustained recovery, driven by event-scale releases that continue to pull audiences off the couch and back into cinemas.
“The end of 2025 has delivered strong momentum for the Australian box office, with results across Christmas and Boxing Day reinforcing the continued strength of the cinema industry,” Keogh said.
“Audiences are responding strongly to this summer’s latest blockbusters, choosing to experience them on the big screen, as they were intended to be seen.”
Leading the charge is “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the third instalment in James Cameron’s blockbuster franchise, which has taken more than $26.4 million locally since opening on December 17th. Starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, the tentpole has proven particularly strong in premium large-format screens, including IMAX and immersive offerings.
Boxing Day also marked the arrival of “Anaconda,” the action-comedy reboot starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd, which debuted with more than $3.5 million in its opening days. Filmed on the Gold Coast and inspired by the 1997 cult title, the release is expected to maintain momentum through January.
Adult-skewing fare also found an audience. Thriller “The Housemaid,” adapted from the bestselling novel, has taken $3 million to date. The film stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, delivering a darker alternative for holiday moviegoers.
Family audiences turned out for “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” which sends SpongeBob and company on an undersea adventure featuring Mark Hamill as the villainous Flying Dutchman.
Meanwhile, feel-good drama “Rental Family,” starring Brendan Fraser, offered a counter-programming option. Set in Tokyo and centred on a man who finds purpose working for a rental-family agency, the film arrives in Australia after earning more than A$15 million in the US following its November release.
Keogh said the breadth of titles on offer has been key to the holiday uplift.
“This summer’s lineup at HOYTS offers something for every age and taste, with a diverse range of films designed to be enjoyed on the big screen,” he said.
“We look forward to welcoming audiences back to relax, enjoy their favourite cinema treats, and experience the stories as they were meant to be seen.”
The summer release calendar remains packed, with “Song Sung Blue” and “The Pout-Pout Fish” opening January 1st, followed by “Grand Prix of Europe” and “SIX The Musical” on January 8th. Mid-January brings “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” and “Hamnet,” with “Mercy” and “Marty Supreme” rounding out the month on January 22nd.