HOYTS Cinemas and IMAX have agreed to launch 10 state-of-the-art cinemas across Australia and New Zealand.
Announced on Thursday, the expansion is the largest IMAX agreement to date for Australia. In total, the number of locations across both countries will grow from four to 14; at least three new locations are set to open before the end of 2026, with additional locations set to open throughout 2027 and 2028.
“Expanding our partnership with IMAX marks another step in strengthening HOYTS’ position as Australia’s leading cinema circuit, while continuing to elevate the cinema experience for audiences nationwide,” HOYTS Group CEO Damian Keogh said.
“The strong performance of our four existing HOYTS IMAX locations, launched at the end of 2025, reflect the growing demand for premium cinema experiences. As more movies are being specifically designed for this format, expanding our partnership with IMAX comes at exactly the right time.”
Giovanni Dolci, IMAX’s Chief Commercial Officer, said the expansion comes on the back on huge growth the company has seen in Australia compared to global markets.
Since 2022, IMAX has expanded from location to ten today. 2025 marked the best-ever performance at the box office for IMAX Australia, delivering a record AUD $18.6 million ($12.1million USD).
This year, the Ryan Gosling-led “Project Hail Mary” recorded the second biggest opening weekend ever for IMAX in Australia.
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“This second agreement with HOYTS within a year highlights the accelerating momentum we’re seeing across Australia and reinforces the strength of IMAX in the market,” Giovanni said.
“Australia is one of our highest-performing markets globally, where demand for IMAX has outstripped our footprint. Together with HOYTS — an outstanding partner with a strong track record of delivering premium cinema experiences — we’re moving quickly to meet that demand and bring the IMAX experience to more audiences.”
The new locations will be equipped with IMAX with Laser which provides 4K images, precision audio, and state-of-the-art projection technology.