Val Morgan has reported that Australian cinemas have seen a 9 per cent year on year surge in admissions this summer season, with a total of 13.5 million tickets sold from 28th November 2024 to 2nd February 2025.

Per Val Morgan, the increase was primarily driven largely by family-oriented films such as "Moana 2," "Wicked," "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," "Mufasa: The Lion King," and "Paddington in Peru".

The summer period saw an 8 per cent year-on-year increase in family admissions, supported by a robust content slate that led to the highest January box office performance since 2020. "Moana 2" emerged as the standout film, achieving 3.07 million admissions and becoming the third highest-grossing animated film of all time in Australia. "Wicked" followed closely, with over 2.4 million admissions, making it the second highest-grossing live-action film in Australian cinema history.

"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" also performed well, with 1.73 million admissions, surpassing its predecessor's earnings by 29 per cent "Mufasa: The Lion King" recorded 1.48 million admissions, further cementing the franchise's enduring popularity. "Paddington in Peru," released on New Year's Day, achieved 1.03 million admissions, marking a 43% increase over the original 2014 "Paddington" film and becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise.

The latest Standard Media Index (SMI) report indicates an 8.8% increase in cinema advertising spend for the calendar year 2024 compared to the previous year. This rise in advertising spend aligns with the increased cinema attendance and box office success.

The 2025 film slate is set to continue this momentum, with anticipated releases including "A Minecraft Movie," "Mission: Impossible 8," "How To Train Your Dragon," "28 Years Later," and "F1" scheduled by the end of June. The second half of 2025 promises further major releases such as "Jurassic World: Rebirth," "Superman," "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," "Wicked: For Good," "Zootopia 2," and "Avatar: Fire and Ash."

Val Morgan Cinema, a long-standing provider of advertising opportunities since 1894, continues to offer a trusted environment for brands to engage with consumers.

Managing Director of Val Morgan Cinema, Guy Burbidge, said: "We knew this summer school holidays would be big, and these record-breaking results prove that Australian’s love for cinema has never been stronger. The growth across key demographics is a clear indication of the demand — and it’s only going to get bigger with the depth of content lined up this year.

"There are plenty of opportunities for brands to connect with hard-to-reach audiences through Cinema in 2025, especially with the lack of major sporting events. Cinema delivers these audiences in spades, and if brands aren’t considering it in their plans, they’re missing a huge opportunity."