Australian cinemas record biggest week since Barbenheimer, says Val Morgan

Cinemas across Australia have recorded their highest admissions week in two years, with Val Morgan Cinema reporting more than two million tickets sold between Thursday and Wednesday.

The surge - the biggest since the Barbenheimer phenomenon in July 2023 - was driven by a slate of high-performing releases across multiple demographics. A total of 2.025 million admissions were recorded, with standout titles including Superman, Jurassic World: Rebirth, and How to Train Your Dragon.

James Gunn’s Superman delivered a record-breaking debut, attracting 544,000 admissions in its first week - the strongest opening day since Deadpool & Wolverine last July. Jurassic World: Rebirth continued its strong run with 433,000 admissions in its third week, while How to Train Your Dragon drew 244,000, making the live-action film the highest-grossing entry in the franchise at over $25 million.

F1 The Movie also contributed 212,000 admissions over the seven-day period.

Guy Burbidge, managing director of Val Morgan Cinema, said the results reflect the enduring strength of the medium.

“The quality, depth and consistency of content in cinemas right now is exceptional, and 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,” he said.

Looking ahead, Val Morgan expects continued momentum with the upcoming releases of Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, and Avatar: Fire and Ash over the Christmas and summer period - traditionally a high-performing window for the cinema industry.

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

Figures are sourced from CineTAM 2025, CineTAM Live 2025 and Numero.