With the sputtering performance of 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' at the box office highlighting a continuing climate of uncertainty for cinemas, Brendan Swift and Sean Slatter find out the strategies operators are using to attract audiences.
Reading International says its cinemas are well placed for a post-COVID-19 and Hollywood Strike recovery.
'Oppenheimer' may have battled it out with 'Barbie' at the box office but 'Poor Things' proved its nearest rival at the Oscars.
Australia's Oscar hopes were dealt a blow at this year's BAFTA Awards as 'Poor Things' scribe Tony McNamara and 'Barbie' star and producer Margot Robbie lost out.
Margot Robbie is well positioned to add an AACTA Audience Choice Award to her Trailblazer prize at this Saturday's ceremony, getting a nod for Favourite Actress, while two of the films she produced — 'Barbie' and 'Saltburn' — are up for Favourite Film.
Screenwriter Tony McNamara is Australia's lone individual nominee for this year's Oscars, with Margot Robbie missing out in the lead actress category and instead recognised as a producer on 'Barbie', which is up for Best Motion Picture.
While 'Barbie' may have been snubbed by BAFTA voters for Best Film, Margot Robbie will still carry Australian hopes at the UK awards, alongside Jacob Elordi and Tony McNamara.
The theatrical success of 'Barbie', 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' and 'Oppenheimer' helped propel the Australian box office to its best year since the pandemic in 2023, though it still trailed pre-2019 levels.