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 November 28 2024 to February 2 2025, a total of 1.83 million admissions were delivered, marking a +9% increase compared to the previous year.
Key demographics experienced significant growth, with admissions among the P14-24 youth audience up a strong +11%, and the P18-39 and P25-54 both up by +4%. This growth was fuelled by four major family franchises and one magical live-action musical.
Biggest films of the summer
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.
Strong place
Matt Tremain, Sales Director of Val Morgan Cinema New Zealand says, “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 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 adds, “With the upcoming slate of guaranteed blockbuster hits, brands can connect with hard-to-reach audiences all year long.”
*Source: CineTAM 2024/2025
The post Kiwis embrace the big screen over summer appeared first on stoppress.co.nz.
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