In a remarkable result, four Australian films - 'The Dry', 'Penguin Bloom', 'High Ground' and 'Occupation: Rainfall' - took home almost 50 per cent of the national box office last weekend.
Australia's lucky run at the box office continues. Four out of the five highest grossing films last weekend were local titles, with new release 'Long Story Short' joining the ranks with 'The Dry', 'Penguin Bloom' and 'High Ground'.
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.
'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.
Independent cinema operators are cautiously optimistic about the road ahead as they push forward with their SCREEN Fund applications.
JJ Winlove's 'June Again', starring Noni Hazlehurst, Claudia Karvan and Stephen Curry, resonated with Mother's Day crowds at the box office.
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.
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.