Dune Ignites the US Box Office and Local Audiences are on the Rise

Movies Makes Waves in the US

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again; Dune is one of those ‘must-not-miss’ titles that was made for the cinema. Already touted as a sci-fi great, critics have marveled at its unique fusion of cyberpunk futurism and action-drama and its impeccable display of visual effects.

Dune opened at #1 in the US over the weekend, taking $40M USD at the box office, and marking the best opening weekend ever for a film directed by French-Canadian sci-fi icon, Denis Villeneuve.

The film is also achieved the best opening weekend audience result for a Warner Bros. title that has simultaneously released in-theatres and on HBO Max. While locally the film will be a cinema exclusive, it’s a positive sign of the market’s eagerness to embrace traditional big-screen viewing for works of cinematic brilliance. It was also the fourth consecutive week of movies opening to $40M+ in the US, pointing to a returned sense of cinemagoer confidence.

In its third weekend internationally, No Time To Die has surpassed $525M at the global box office; only the second Hollywood movie of the pandemic-era to surpass the $500M mark. Also continuing to tear up the global box office is Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage, which has now reached $350M USD across the globe.

Looking forward, advanced ticket sales for Marvel’s Eternals are outpacing that of Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. With positive reviews already in sight, experts are forecasting a $100M opening in the US – and after seeing the cast kitted out in their latest character profiles, we tend to agree it’s gonna be a goodie!

A Local Lense: Last Weekend at the Movies

The 25th Bond installment No Time To Die remains the most-watched film across the nation, accounting for 50% of all ticket sales. With a roadmap out of lockdown now forming, we hope Auckland and Hamilton’s cinemagoers will have a chance to catch it soon too.

Across the channel, Australian audiences are continuing to build with weekend admissions increasing +9% week-on-week. Following 15 weeks of closure, Sydney is punching above its weight, taking around 100,000 admissions over the weekend.

Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings continues to dominate the chart, maintaining its reign as the most-watched film in Australia for the eighth consecutive week. We predict its success is not over just yet, with cinemas across Victoria and Canberra set to welcome audiences back to the big screen this Friday.