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Key Facts: <\/p>\n
Australian audiences flocked to cinemas over the Christmas and Boxing Day extended\u00a0weekend, delivering a major festive box office boost, with the total for\u00a0the four-day festive weekend coming in at $21.3 million \u2013 16.2 per cent up on the week\u00a0prior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the top of audiences\u2019 wish lists is James Cameron\u2019s Avatar: Fire and Ash (M), which has taken more than $26.4 million at the Australian box office since its release on 17 December.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australian audiences flocked to cinemas over the Christmas and Boxing Day extended\u00a0weekend, delivering a major festive box office boost, with the total for\u00a0the four-day festive weekend coming in at $21.3 million \u2013 16.2 per cent up on the week\u00a0prior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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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\u00a0million, driven by a strong pipeline of blockbuster tentpoles, established franchises, and\u00a0fresh theatrical releases.<\/p>\n
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HOYTS\u2019 CEO Damian Keogh said the pleasing blockbuster figures reflect the ongoing revival of the Australian cinema market.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe 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\u2019s latest blockbusters, choosing to experience them on the big screen, as they were intended to be seen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAt the top of audiences\u2019 wish lists is James Cameron\u2019s Avatar: Fire and Ash (M), which has taken more than $26.4 million at the Australian box office since its release on 17 December.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe third instalment in the Avatar franchise, starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Salda\u00f1a, is on track to be one of the year\u2019s biggest films and is ideally suited to HOYTS\u2019 premium formats, including D-BOX, SCREENX and IMAX with Laser, which deliver an immersive big screen and sound experience.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis summer\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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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 \u2018classic\u2019, was filmed in Australia on the Gold Coast, and its popularity is expected to stretch into January.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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 \u2018dark side\u2019 in this villainous role.<\/p>\n
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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 \u2018rental family\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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Follow HOYTS Australia on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, TikTok<\/a> and LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n About us: <\/p>\n About HOYTS<\/p>\n Since opening the doors of its first cinema in 1909, HOYTS has gone on to become one of the world\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Contact details: <\/p>\n For media information or to coordinate HOYTS interviews<\/p>\n Chriss Mannix<\/p>\n E:[email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\n M: 0418 408 035<\/p>\n Karen Strahan\u00a0 M: 0418 408 035<\/p>\n
E: [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/HOYTS_AU_Footer-3-860x94.jpg\")
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