An analysis of the Australian films released in cinemas in 2013 makes for grim reading, with a handful of critical and/or commercial successes outnumbered by misfires and under-achievers.
Are Australian audiences getting soft and avoiding darker and more confronting, challenging material?
Some 17 Australian films including two documentaries have been released in Australian cinemas this year.
Australian box office takings improved by a modest 8% to $10.7 million last weekend despite the launch of four films aimed at kids and teenagers.
Baz Luhrmann now occupies three of the top six slots in the list of Australia's top-grossing films on home turf.
Sony's hopes of launching a witches-and-warlocks franchise were severely dented if not dashed last weekend as The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones bombed in the US, although the Australian opening was more respectable.
Sci-fi drama Elysium proved far more alluring than crass road comedy We're The Millers at Australian cinemas last weekend.
Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy as mismatched cops proved far more appealing than Guillermo del Toro's creature feature in Australian cinemas over the weekend.