Perth, Dec 29: Australian moviegoers have returned to cinemas in force over the Christmas and Boxing Day period, delivering a significant box office boost for HOYTS and the wider local market.
Across the extended festive weekend, the Australian box office climbed 35 per cent compared with the same period in 2024, generating more than $8.46 million in ticket sales.
The strong result was fuelled by a mix of blockbuster tentpoles, franchise favourites and new theatrical releases appealing to a broad audience.
HOYTS CEO Damian Keogh said the recent performance underlined the strength of the cinema experience as a major part of Australians’ holiday entertainment.
“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. 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,” he said.
Topping the holiday slate is James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash (M), which has already taken more than $24 million at the Australian box office since opening on 17 December.
“At the top of audiences’ wish lists is James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash (M), which has taken more than $24 million at the Australian box office since its release on 17 December.
“The third instalment in the Avatar franchise, starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, is on track to be one of the year’s biggest films and is ideally suited to HOYTS’ premium formats, including D-BOX, SCREENX and IMAX with Laser, which deliver an immersive big screen and sound experience.
“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. 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, on the big screen.”
Boxing Day (26 December) also marked the release of Anaconda (M), a Jack Black and Paul Rudd action-comedy inspired by the 1997 horror-adventure film and shot on the Gold Coast. The title has brought in more than $2.3 million in its first days of release and is expected to perform strongly into January.
Thriller The Housemaid (MA15+), based on the best-selling novel of the same name and starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, also opened over the period, debuting with $1.94 million. The film leads viewers into a dark, twist-filled story where appearances are deceiving, pitched at fans of the book and audiences looking for something more edgy this festive season.
Families have been well catered for too, with The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (PG) drawing younger audiences. The film follows SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Sandy and Mr Krabs on an underwater quest to confront the ghostly Flying Dutchman, voiced by Mark Hamill in a gleefully villainous turn.
For cinemagoers seeking more heartfelt fare, Rental Family (M), starring Brendan Fraser, offers a quieter, emotional story. Set in contemporary Tokyo, it follows an American actor who finds meaning through work with a Japanese “rental family” agency, taking on stand-in roles for strangers. The film has already earned more than AU$15 million in the US since its November release and is being positioned locally as a word-of-mouth holiday gem.
HOYTS’ festive lineup will continue to expand into January, with upcoming titles including Song Sung Blue (M) and The Pout-Pout Fish (G) on 1 January; Grand Prix of Europe (G) and SIX The Musical (CTC) on 8 January; 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (MA15+) and Hamnet (CTC) on 15 January; and Mercy (M) and Marty Supreme (CTC) on 22 January, ensuring a steady stream of new releases for summer audiences.
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