Roadshow will launch Robert Connolly's 'The Dry' on January 1 and Glendyn Ivin's 'Penguin Bloom' on January 21, raising exhibitors' hopes of a strong start to the year on the proviso that a raft of Hollywood titles are not postponed.
Universal's 'The Invisible Man' is getting a second lease of theatrical life thanks to drive-ins and newly re-opened cinemas in Western Australia, Adelaide and Alice Springs.
The box office results for the Australian films and feature docs released in cinemas this year underline yet again the deep polarisation in the indie film market between the higher earners and the also-rans.
'Avatar: The Way of Water' has proved the bumper summer hit exhibitors hoped it would be. Some four weekends in, the James Cameron sequel - with a cume of $66.7 million - is already the the sixth highest grossing film to ever be released in Australia.
A re-release of the highest grossing film of all time coupled with a super weekend for 'DC League of Super-Pets' has led to another strong week-on-week increase at the Australian box office.
'John Wick: Chapter 4' made light work of 'Shazam: Fury of the Gods' at the box office on the weekend, blasting its way to the top with $6.4 million from 542 screens.
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.
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.