Australian cinemas notch biggest admissions week since Barbenheimer

Australian cinemas have recorded their biggest week of admissions since July 2023’s Barbenheimer spike, with more than 2.025 million people heading to the movies over the past seven days.

Data from CineTAM and Numero shows the period from Thursday to Wednesday delivered the highest weekly attendance in two years, driven by a mix of high-performing new releases and strong holdovers.

Leading the charge was the debut of Superman, directed by James Gunn, which tallied 544,000 admissions in its opening week, including the highest single-day attendance since Deadpool & Wolverine premiered last July.

Other titles in the top five included Jurassic World: Rebirth with 433,000 third-week admissions, and How to Train Your Dragon, which added 244,000 in week two. The live-action reboot has now surpassed $25 million at the Australian box office, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise locally.

F1 The Movie also contributed significantly, attracting 212,000 admits over the seven-day period.

Guy Burbidge, Managing Director of Val Morgan Cinema, said the surge highlights the strength of the current release slate and the enduring appeal of the big screen.

“The quality, depth and consistency of content in cinemas right now is exceptional,” Burbidge said. “It’s clear that cinema continues to attract key audiences through first-run content that combines emotion, scale, and the power of shared experiences — elements that consistently set the channel apart from other forms of entertainment.”

Looking ahead, major titles including Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, and Avatar: Fire and Ash are expected to draw large crowds across the Christmas and Summer seasons.

“The second half of the year is packed with bankable moments that will deliver for our core audiences,” Burbidge added. “Christmas and Summer are when cinema really delivers huge audiences but also massive benefits for brands looking to own key moments and stand out.”

Source: CineTAM 2025, CineTAM Live 2025, Numero

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