Blondes, bombs, and underwater bites continue to reign at the Australian box office, with the top three films of 'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer', and 'Meg 2: The Trench' holding their positions from last week.
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.
Danny and Michael Philippou's debut feature 'Talk to Me' landed at no. 6 at the North American box office, proving to be A24's most successful release since 2018's 'Hereditary'. At home, it opened at no. 4 and is already the third highest grossing Australian film of the year.
Jason Statham shark thriller 'Meg 2: The Trench' may have opened significantly below the 2018 original in North America, but here in Australia, receipts were almost on par. That said, the sequel was no match at all for the continued phenomenon that is 'Barbenheimer'.
Australian audiences have heeded the call of 'Sound of Freedom' and 'André Rieu's 2023 Maastricht Concert: Love is All Around', with the former breaking up Barbenheimer to be the second-highest-grossing film of the weekend.
Playstation game adaptation 'Gran Turismo' drew respectable crowds at the box office last weekend, but failed to hold a candle to heights of 'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer' or even 'Meg 2: The Trench'.
With 'Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One' opening to a franchise best in Australia, and 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' pre-sales reportedly going gangbusters, the mood among most exhibitors is buoyant.
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.