By their "very different but equally excellent" powers combined, 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer have given Australian cinemas their best weekend since the pandemic began - and for at least one exhibitor, its best weekend ever.
Kids and families are flocking to the Jumanji, Star Wars and Frozen sequels while adults are embracing the original titles Jojo Rabbit, Little Women and The Gentlemen.
'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' has powered back to the top of the box office, toppling last weekend's number one, 'The Lost City', and well ahead of new additions 'The Northman' and 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent'.
Warner Bros' 'Tenet' reigned in its second weekend while Disney's 'The New Mutants' opened meekly as the long, slow road to recovery for Australian cinemas continues.
Robert McCall may have claimed his biggest scalp yet on the weekend, with 'The Equalizer 3' shooting past 'Barbie' to reach top spot at the Australian box office.
Leigh Whannell’s Sydney-shot 'The Invisible Man' easily won the box office derby in Australia last weekend, matching its top-ranked US debut.
The floodgates opened last weekend with more than a dozen new releases led by 'The Personal History of David Copperfield', plus several re-issues as more cinemas resumed trading.
With audiences emerging from lockdown in South East Queensland, Cairns and regional Victoria, DC/Warner Bros.' 'The Suicide Squad' held no. 1 at the box office, narrowly defeating Disney's new sci-fi, 'Free Guy'.