Easter weekend cracks 151,000 cinema admissions

AUCKLAND, Today: A total of 151,000 Kiwis hopped to the big screen over the Easter weekend –13% up on Easter last year, according to Val Morgan.

The result was driven by the global smash hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie which drove 66,000 admissions from Thursday to Sunday.

Val Morgan NZ sales director Matt Tremain said: “Easter weekend at the movies was nothing short of egg-ceptional with an incredible 51,000 Kiwis hopping to the big screen to deliver the biggest weekend admissions result of the year.

“John Wick: Chapter 4 and Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, were among the films that drove the stellar result.

“But it was the latest collaboration between Illumination, Universal and Nintendo, The Super Mario Bros. Movie that was the shining star of the weekend.

“It was the biggest opening weekend ever for an animated film globally, beating out Frozen II.”

“The highly anticipated hit delivered the biggest opening weekend for any film this year with a total of 66,000 admissions across its Thursday to Sunday opening weekend, with 52% of the audience falling within the 25-54 demographic.

“It has also taken the top spot of the biggest opening weekend ever for an animated film globally, beating out Frozen II which released in 2019.

“As one of the most anticipated titles of the year, we knew The Super Mario Bros. Movie had the power to connect with multiple generations and we’re thrilled to see it do just that.

“Cinema has once again demonstrated that it delivers key cultural moments that captivate hard-to-reach audiences, and we’re so excited to give brands the opportunity to align with such a strong line-up of content this year.

“The blockbuster slate is well and truly heating up with the coming months packed with even bigger cultural moments like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Fast X, The Little Mermaid, The Flash, Indiana Jones 5, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Barbie.”

• Source: CineTAM 2023.
• valmorgan.co.nz