Cinema summer admissions up 9%, soar to 1.83 million.
It was another big summer for New Zealand cinemas, with audiences embracing the big screen experience to enjoy a season full of cultural moments.
From 28th November 2024 to 2nd February 2025, a total of 1.83 million admissions were delivered, marking a +9% increase compared to the previous year.
Cinema was the go-to choice for hard-to-reach audiences over the summer, with key demographics experiencing significant growth. Admissions among the P14-24 youth audience were up a strong +11%, and the P18-39 and P25-54 were both up by +4%. This growth was fuelled by four major family franchises and one magical live-action musical.
The standout film of the summer was Moana 2, which delivered 502,000 admissions, securing its spot as the second highest-grossing animated film of all time in NZ, overtaking Inside Out 2 from earlier in 2024.
Wicked followed as the second biggest film of the summer, with 286,000 admissions to date.
Mufasa: The Lion King has also had a strong run since releasing in late December with 222,000 admissions so far, reaffirming the franchise’s enduring popularity.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has delivered 210,000 admissions to date and has become the highest-grossing film in the franchise.
New Year’s Day release Paddington in Peru has delivered 132,000 admissions across its run so far, making it the highest-grossing film in the Paddington franchise.
Matt Tremain, Sales Director of Val Morgan Cinema New Zealand commented "The growth in admissions and key demographics proves cinema's strong place in the hearts of Kiwis, and the momentum is set to continue with the depth of content releasing over 2025."
Looking ahead, the 2025 slate is packed with youth and family films, with highly anticipated releases including A Minecraft Movie, Mission: Impossible 8, How To Train Your Dragon, 28 Years Later, and F1 all releasing by the end of June
Other huge franchise films that are set to blow up the box office over H2 include, Jurassic World: Rebirth, Superman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, and the monumental Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is expected to be the biggest film of 2025.
Tremain added “With the upcoming slate of guaranteed blockbuster hits, brands can connect with hard-to-reach audiences all year long.”
See the full slate: Movies — Val Morgan
*Source: CineTAM 2024/2025