There are positive signs for filmed entertainment and free-to-air television in PwC’s annual Media and Entertainment Outlook, which shows both sectors experienced a resurgence in 2021.
Australians waited longer than most to see Denis Villeneuve’s 'Dune' on the big screen, with the film opening to a respectable $4.8 million last weekend.
With three titles boasting weekend takings of more than $1 million, the theatrical market seems to be approaching something close to normal.
'No Time To Die' has been in release in the Australian market for less than two weeks but has already achieved what only a handful of films have done since the pandemic begun - it's crossed the $20 million mark.
Since cinemas reopened around the country, there was one film in particular that exhibitors were banking on to lure audiences back to theatres: 'No Time To Die'.
"There's been enormous change over the journey." Palace Cinemas national programming director Kim Petalas will step down from his role in late December after some 30 years with the company.
Cinemas in metro-Melbourne are able to reopen to fully vaccinated patrons tonight from 6pm, at 75 per cent capacity or up to 1,000 people. With Melbourne the most locked-down city in the world, IF talks to Village Cinemas executive general manager Nic Robin and Cinema Nova joint executive director Natalie Miller about how they have fared and how they see the theatrical landscape.
As long as people get back into the habit of going to the cinema and exhibitors can put trailers in front of them, the NSW independent sector should recover "quite well", according to Independent Cinema Australia president Scott Seddon.