Australian audiences flocked to cinemas over the Christmas and Boxing Day extended weekend, delivering a major festive box office boost, with the total for the four-day festive weekend coming in at $21.3 million – 16.2 per cent up on the week prior.
At the top of audiences’ wish lists is James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash (M), which has taken more than $26.4 million at the Australian box office since its release on 17 December.
Boxing Day (26 December) saw Anaconda (M) let loose in cinemas, with the Jack Black and Paul Rudd action-comedy bringing in more than $3.5 million in its first days of release.
Thriller The Housemaid (MA15+), based on the best-selling book of the same name, made its debut in cinemas, taking $3 million to date.
Australian audiences flocked to cinemas over the Christmas and Boxing Day extended weekend, delivering a major festive box office boost, with the total for the four-day festive weekend coming in at $21.3 million – 16.2 per cent up on the week prior.
For the two-day holiday period of Christmas and Boxing Day, the Australian box office was up 35% on the same period in 2024, taking in over $8.46 million, driven by a strong pipeline of blockbuster tentpoles, established franchises, and fresh theatrical releases.
HOYTS’ CEO Damian Keogh said the pleasing blockbuster figures reflect the ongoing revival of the Australian cinema market.
“The end of 2025 has delivered strong momentum for the Australian box office, with results across Christmas and Boxing Day reinforcing the continued strength of the cinema industry. Audiences are responding strongly to this summer’s latest blockbusters, choosing to experience them on the big screen, as they were intended to be seen,” he said.
“At the top of audiences’ wish lists is James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash (M), which has taken more than $26.4 million at the Australian box office since its release on 17 December.
“The third instalment in the Avatar franchise, starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, is on track to be one of the year’s biggest films and is ideally suited to HOYTS’ premium formats, including D-BOX, SCREENX and IMAX with Laser, which deliver an immersive big screen and sound experience.
“This summer’s lineup at HOYTS offers something for every age and taste, with a diverse range of films designed to be enjoyed on the big screen. We look forward to welcoming audiences back to relax, enjoy their favourite cinema treats, and experience the stories as they were meant to be seen, on the big screen.”
Boxing Day (26 December) saw Anaconda (M) let loose in cinemas, with the Jack Black and Paul Rudd action-comedy bringing in more than $3.5 million in its first days of release. The movie, inspired by the 1997 horror-adventure ‘classic’, was filmed in Australia on the Gold Coast, and its popularity is expected to stretch into January.
Thriller The Housemaid (MA15+), based on the best-selling book of the same name, made its debut in cinemas, taking $3 million to date. Starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, the plot plunges audiences into a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems. This one is perfect for lovers of the book and those looking for something a little edgy and compelling this festive season.
Also making a splash in cinemas was family-friendly The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (PG), in which SpongeBob and his friends Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, and Mr. Krabs journey to the ocean's depths to face the Flying Dutchman's ghost, which is voiced by Mark Hamill who has turned to the ‘dark side’ in this villainous role.
For those wanting to hang onto the heartwarming vibes of the Christmas season, Rental Family (M) staring Brendan Fraser is a must see. Set in modern-day Tokyo, an American actor struggles to find purpose, until he lands an unusual gig working for a Japanese ‘rental family’ agency, where he plays stand-in roles for strangers. Rental Family is a hidden gem for the holidays and has already made over AU$15 million in the US following its release in November.
There are plenty more movies set to hit the cinema these holidays, including Song Sung Blue (M) and The Pout-Pout Fish (G) releasing 1 January, Grand Prix of Europe (G) and SIX The Musical (CTC) releasing 8 January, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (MA15+) and Hamnet (CTC) releasing 15 January, Mercy (M) and Marty Supreme (CTC) releasing 22 January.
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About HOYTS
Since opening the doors of its first cinema in 1909, HOYTS has gone on to become one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, with more than 500 screens and over 57,000 seats across the network. Today, HOYTS is the largest single-brand movie exhibitor in Australia and New Zealand.
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