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# Australian cinemas pass the billion-dollar mark for the year
- URL: https://www.promptthemarket.com/australian-cinemas-pass-billion-dollar-mark-2026/
- Published: 2026-11-04T05:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-04T05:29:59.000Z
- Description: Val Morgan says box office is up 24% on last year, citing Numero data, the biggest year since 2019, with five straight $100 million months from April.
- Author: Editor News
- Tags: Media, Australia, Val Morgan Cinema, Press releases, #author-james-dore

![James Dore](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/01/e4017178-c1da-4131-80aa-35f02cb5b999/content/images/2026/09/james-dore.jpg)

By **James Dore** · 2026-10-22

TLDR

Australian cinema box office has passed $1 billion for 2026, its biggest year since 2019 and up 24% on last year, according to cinema advertising company Val Morgan, citing Numero data. Five straight $100 million months from April to August did most of the work.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01Australian box office has passed $1 billion for 2026, the biggest year since 2019.

02Val Morgan says box office is up 24% year on year, citing Numero data.

03April to August were five consecutive $100 million months, and May was the biggest month on record.

04The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day together outgrossed the Barbenheimer double bill in August.

05Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part 3 open in December, about 24 hours apart.

## The milestone

Australian cinemas have taken more than $1 billion at the box office in 2026, the biggest year since 2019 and 24% up on last year, according to Val Morgan, which sells advertising in Australian cinemas and cites Numero as its source.[\[1\]](https://www.valmorgan.com.au/news/billion-dollar-baby-cinema-skyrockets-to-1b-biggest-box-office-since-2019?ref=promptthemarket.com)

"Crossing $1 billion is a landmark for Australian cinema," said Guy Burbidge, managing director of Val Morgan Cinema.[\[1\]](https://www.valmorgan.com.au/news/billion-dollar-baby-cinema-skyrockets-to-1b-biggest-box-office-since-2019?ref=promptthemarket.com) He also pitched the result straight at advertisers: "For brands, that's the plot twist not to miss."[\[2\]](https://www.bandt.com.au/landmark-for-australian-cinema-aussie-box-office-passes-1b-for-2026/?ref=promptthemarket.com)

## What drove it

The year ran five consecutive $100 million months from April to August. Valentine's Day was the biggest since 2016, led by Wuthering Heights. May was the biggest month on record, helped by the best Mother's Day weekend, as Michael became the second-biggest biopic and The Devil Wears Prada 2 the third-biggest comedy. Winter was the biggest on record.[\[1\]](https://www.valmorgan.com.au/news/billion-dollar-baby-cinema-skyrockets-to-1b-biggest-box-office-since-2019?ref=promptthemarket.com)

August was the highest-grossing August, with The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day together outgrossing the Barbenheimer double bill. Val Morgan says Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now fifth on the all-time list and The Odyssey ninth, and that Obsession is the highest-grossing horror film.[\[1\]](https://www.valmorgan.com.au/news/billion-dollar-baby-cinema-skyrockets-to-1b-biggest-box-office-since-2019?ref=promptthemarket.com)

## December next

Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part 3 open in December, about 24 hours apart and a week before Christmas, which Val Morgan is using to sell the summer to brands.[\[1\]](https://www.valmorgan.com.au/news/billion-dollar-baby-cinema-skyrockets-to-1b-biggest-box-office-since-2019?ref=promptthemarket.com)

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [Billion-dollar baby: Cinema skyrockets to $1B, biggest box office since 2019, Val Morgan](https://www.valmorgan.com.au/news/billion-dollar-baby-cinema-skyrockets-to-1b-biggest-box-office-since-2019?ref=promptthemarket.com)
2. [Aussie box office passes $1B for 2026, B&T](https://www.bandt.com.au/landmark-for-australian-cinema-aussie-box-office-passes-1b-for-2026/?ref=promptthemarket.com)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How big is the Australian box office in 2026?

More than $1 billion, the biggest year since 2019 and up 24% year on year, according to Val Morgan citing Numero data.

Which films drove it?

Val Morgan names Wuthering Heights, Michael, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Obsession among the year's big results.

What is coming in December?

Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part 3, which open about 24 hours apart.

![James Dore](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/01/e4017178-c1da-4131-80aa-35f02cb5b999/content/images/2026/09/james-dore.jpg)

[James Dore](https://www.promptthemarket.com/james-dore/)

James Dore is founder and editor of Prompt the Market and Strategy Director at Bushnote, a Sydney strategy, SEO and AI search agency. He has a background in strategy, media and financial services, and led consumer product marketing at MONEYME. He writes on AI search, answer engines, technology policy and media economics.