The records smashed by doco 'John Farnham: Finding the Voice' have proven that Australians will still come out in numbers to see local stories on the big screen, and there is significant optimism among exhibitors about the commercial potential of 'Force of Nature: The Dry 2'. However, broadly the year so far has been a very slow one for Australian films at the box office.
Since cinemas reopened around the country, there was one film in particular that exhibitors were banking on to lure audiences back to theatres: 'No Time To Die'.
With continued paucity of product from the US and other international territories, Australian films remain the main event at the box office.
'No Time To Die' has been in release in the Australian market for less than two weeks but has already achieved what only a handful of films have done since the pandemic begun - it's crossed the $20 million mark.
Roadshow Films CEO Joel Pearlman has touted the opening weekend result for 'RAMS', arguing it proves Australian audiences are enthusiastic to return to cinemas.
Disney/Marvel's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' scored the best opening for the franchise and the second highest opening of the year so far behind 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'.
By their "very different but equally excellent" powers combined, 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer have given Australian cinemas their best weekend since the pandemic began - and for at least one exhibitor, its best weekend ever.
Marvel blockbuster 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' delivered exhibitors a box office boost last weekend, with its opening weekend the most successful in the 'Ant-Man' franchise so far.