Australia’s exhibition industry is looking upbeat, with box office revenue expected to exceed A$1 billion ($650 million) in 2025 for the first time since 2019.
Exhibitors say that’s partly because teens and young adults are returning to movie theaters or going to theaters for the first time.
“They’re getting so much content that they thought they’d never come back, but scrolling is exhausting and they’re finding a special joy in the movie experience,” said Benjamin Zeccola, CEO of Palace Cinemas.
According to the Australian Film Association (CAA), Australia is one of the world’s top 10 markets, with the world’s highest per capita box office revenue and is estimated to be the most affordable country in the world to go to the movies, calculated by dividing the average ticket price by the minimum wage.
“There’s a more positive atmosphere in the market, especially with the actions of Generation Alpha,” said Mark Wooldridge, founder of exhibitor Maslow Entertainment. “[Movie-sharing platform]Letterboxd is driving interest, along with A24 and Neon’s[great]taste and marketing prowess.”
He added that the abundance of production and the combination of films that cross genres and audiences are aiding the recovery.
Australian movie fans are unique, Zeccola suggests. They seek authenticity and “will not tolerate bullshit or condescension.”
back to business
According to Screen Australia, it had a total of 55.4 million admissions in 2024 and generated revenue of A$951 million ($619 million). As of late September 2025, CAA stands by its prediction from earlier this year that total Australian box office revenue in 2025 would exceed A$1 billion ($650 million). If correct, it would be the first time since 2019 that this metric has been reached.
Box office revenue exceeded A$1 billion ($650 million) every year from 2009 to 2019, with a record of A$1.26 billion ($820 million) set in 2016.
Total revenue for the first half of 2025 was A$591.4 million ($385 million), up 30% year-on-year, according to Comscore. warner bros Minecraft movies ‘ was the highest grossing film of all time with A$56.3 million (approximately $36.6 million), almost double the amount of the second highest grossing Disney film. lilo & stitch, The box office gross was AUD 29 million ($29 million), and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning It ranked third with AU$23.1 million ($15 million).
As of late September, the five biggest independent film releases were: paddington peru (A$17.8 million/$11.6 million), master of papal drama and awards conclave (Roadshow, A$8.8 million/A$5.7 million), China’s animation global phenomenon Ne the 2 (CMC, A$7.5 million/$4.9 million), romantic drama we live in time (Studio Canal, A$6.8 million/A$4.4 million) and action films ballerina (Roadshow, A$4.5 million/A$2.9 million).
A24 is currently releasing select films directly to the Australian market and has filmed a film with Halina Reign. baby girl Alex Garland’s Iraq War-set drama grossed $2.3 million war It generated revenue of US$1.3 million.
According to Palace Cinemas, a boutique arthouse exhibitor with 211 screens in 24 locations, the best-performing films on screens through the end of September were roadshow films. conclave. CEO Zeccola said the company accounts for more than 60% of all foreign-language film box office revenue in Europe. According to him, about 50% of all French-language movie tickets are Jane Austen ruined my life(which grossed a total of $460,000), for example, were almost entirely Greek-language films. Stelios (US$461,000) was sold at the Palace venue.
Sister distribution company Palace Films releases about 12 films a year, with two successful French films by Matthew Delaporte and Alexandre de la Pateliere. Count of Monte Cristo and Pascal Bonitzer’s stolen paintings this year. They grossed A$1.3 million ($846,000) and A$600,000 ($391,000) respectively.
The past six months have not been without setbacks for Palace. Zeccola was disappointed that Paolo Sorrentino’s Italian version was released on December 26, 2024 parthenogen (214,000 USD) However, he said the film was on par with A24’s US release, which grossed $290,000. This was a similar story in Boris Rozhkine’s other two non-English films. Sleymane’s story (US$260,000) and Gilles Lelouch beating heart (US$260,000), both from France.
“It was fine financially, but these films were such beautiful filmmaking and storytelling that you can’t help but feel a little disappointed that they didn’t reach a wider audience,” he says.
Meanwhile, Madman, one of Australia’s most active distributors, has enjoyed success with three very different titles this year. Miki Magasiva’s cozy New Zealand title body (A$3.3 million/$2.1 million), Oscar-winning animation directed by Gintz Zylbarodis flow (A$1.3 million/$846,000) and produced in the UK by Peter Cattaneo penguin lesson (A$1.2 million/$781,000) Starring Steve Coogan.
Additionally, there have been encouraging results from films that have been released in cinemas to enthusiastic audiences from Australia’s Chinese and Indian diaspora communities.
“International content has grown significantly, with foreign language films accounting for 10% of admissions in the past year,” reveals Louis George, programmer and foreign language content manager at Hoyts Cinema. “China is at the forefront of this surge and we are proud to hold the number one market share for Chinese content in Australia.”
In addition to Chinese hit songs, Ne the 2Nine Chinese and Indian films have grossed more than A$1 million (about $651,000) in Australia this year. Niu Vision Media Chinatown Detective 1900China Lion Film’s Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force; mind blowing Saiyara and Chaava, tory movies coolie and Cyber Systems L2: Impurity.
local hits
The highest-grossing locally produced film so far in 2025 is Michael Gracey’s Robbie Williams musical drama, which opened December 26 on Roadshow. bettermanwhich grossed A$5.3 million ($3.5 million).
Top-performing local films so far in 2025 are horror films from Danny and Michael Philippou bring her back (Sony) and paranormal body horror together (Kismet), which grossed A$2.5 million ($1.6 million) and A$1.2 million ($781,000), respectively. correspondent (Maslow Entertainment) and spit on (Transmission) is the only other local title to gross more than A$1 million ($651,000) at the box office.
Kate Woods’ family comedy to air in September kangarooThe first film from Studiocanal’s production division Cultivator Film Australia, Theatrical had a strong opening at the beginning of the school holidays, grossing A$2.6 million ($1.7 million) in its first two weeks.
Releasing Australian films can be risky for Maslow Entertainment, whose release slate consists of up to 80% domestic production.
Founder Wooldridge, who previously served as 20th Century Fox’s Australian managing director, said working in local films was “emotionally and intellectually fulfilling” but not necessarily “financially fulfilling”.
“When something helps an audience, it’s very rewarding. You don’t have to go to the cinema. You have to want to go to the cinema,” he says. “It’s not a logical choice, it’s an emotional choice.”
