The 2023-24 summer of cinema delivered 9.8 million admissions.
This result from December 15 to January 28 was driven by Wonka, Anyone But You, Migration, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and breakout success Mean Girls. 48% of total admissions across the holidays fell within the P14-39 demographic.
Almost half (48%) of total admissions across the holidays falling within the P14-39 demographic, up from 46% last year, driven by titles such as Anyone But You, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Mean Girls.
The star of the season was Wonka, which drove the most admissions across the holidays. Since its release on December 14, Wonka has proven its multigenerational appeal, with more than 2.05 million admissions delivered across Australia.
The film has also surpassed the box office performance of the original 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Tim Burton’s 2005 film adaptation Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Anyone But You, starring Sydney Sweeney, was the sleeper hit of the summer. The modern romcom resonated strongly with youth audiences and secured 1.04 million admissions during its school holiday run, with 48% of admissions delivered from the P14-24 demographic.
Illumination Animation’s, Migration contributed to the school holiday period, having accumulated 1.02 million admissions, and DC's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was not far behind, with 974,000 admissions.
Tina Fey’s American musical comedy, Mean Girls, proved to be a hit amongst Australians, delivering 460,000 admissions since releasing on January 11 and is poised to continue its successful box office run over the coming weeks.
Guy Burbidge, managing director of Val Morgan Cinema, says these summer results were shaped by powerful titles centred around strong female characters.
“Amongst a very diverse slate, we've witnessed a predominantly female-led summer at the cinema, driven by compelling narratives that highlight and celebrate the strength of female characters," he says.
"This builds upon the positive momentum initiated by powerhouse hit, Barbie, and this is only set to continue in 2024.”
As the curtains close on the 2023-24 summer season, Australian cinema is gearing up for an equally exciting 2024 slate.
Anticipated releases such as Dune Part Two, Kung Fu Panda 4, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga are set to captivate audiences in the next four months.
Looking ahead, audiences can expect blockbuster releases and cultural moments like Despicable Me 4, Deadpool 3, Joker: Folie a Deux, Wicked Part 1 and Mufasa: The Lion King.
Burbidge says audiences are set to see some of the biggest and most iconic film franchises continue their cinematic journeys.
"With the lovable Minions in Despicable Me 4 – the largest animation franchise globally, having surpassed $4 billion at the global box office with its latest instalment in 2023, and the highly anticipated Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel to Disney's 2019 live-action remake," he says.
"The box office success of these franchises speaks volumes, marking a powerful opportunity for brands to align some of the most significant moments in our contemporary culture. In addition to these well-established franchises, audiences and brands can look forward to exciting new releases, including Wicked Part 1, which is expected to become one of the most monumental films in 2024."
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