Just over a week ago 'F9' revved into cinemas, posting the highest opening weekend since the pandemic began. Many exhibitors were then excited about the further promise of school holidays and two other upcoming major releases in 'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard' and 'In The Heights'.
But what a difference a week can make, with new outbreaks of the virus impacting cinemas across the country and disrupting the market.
Horrors 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It' and 'A Quiet Place Part II' might have led the box office last weekend, but the national tally was far from scary - even despite the Melbourne lockdown.
With no new major releases, last weekend saw the lowest box office tally of the year so far.
Warner Bros.' 'Mortal Kombat' proved the main attraction at the box office last weekend, driving almost half of all trade, and ranking as one of the highest R-rated openers of all time.
'Godzilla vs. Kong' remains the main event at the box office but 'Peter Rabbit 2' is hopping up right behind, boosted by school holiday audiences.
WB's 'Godzilla vs. Kong' has posted the highest opening weekend of any film post-COVID, in a hopeful sign that audiences are ready to come back to cinemas for blockbusters.
As predicted, Roadshow's 'The Dry' has crossed the $20 million mark, making it the 14th highest grossing Australian film of all time.
Japan’s highest grossing feature film of all time, 'Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train', is also proving a hit with Australian audiences.