Australian cinema box office hits $1bn for first time since 2019

Australia's cinema box office has crossed $1 billion for the first time since 2019, with revenue up 24% year-on-year as audiences flock to the big screen.

Figures released by Val Morgan Cinema show five consecutive months of box office revenue exceeding $100 million between April and August, with several major film releases driving the industry's strongest performance in seven years.

May delivered its highest box office on record, while winter also set a new seasonal benchmark, with August becoming the highest-grossing August in Australian cinema history.

Blockbusters The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day were among the biggest drawcards, with both entering the all-time top 10 at the Australian box office. The recovery provides a welcome boost for cinema advertising, with Val Morgan pointing to growing audiences and the channel's ability to deliver large-scale brand campaigns.

“Crossing $1 billion is a landmark for Australian cinema. It's been driven by audiences of every age turning up again and again, across every genre, for the kind of shared, can't-miss experiences you don't get anywhere else,” Guy Burbidge, managing director at Val Morgan Cinema, said.

“For brands, that's the plot twist not to miss. Cinema delivers an engaged audience on the biggest screen there is, and that audience is growing.”

The industry is anticipating another strong finish to the year, with Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part 3 scheduled to arrive in Australian cinemas in December.

The figures are sourced from Numero and CineTAM.