Australia’s box office has reached a new high, with May 2026 officially overtaking 2019 to become the biggest May of all time.
The month’s box office sits at $119 million, surpassing 2019 by 26 per cent, reinforcing the continued strength of theatrical exhibition.
The success of May has been driven by a combination of high release volume and diverse content. It has created record-setting performances across Australia and growth across key audience demographics, including families, youth and NEOs.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 became the third biggest comedy of all time. Michael, the biopic of Michael Jackson, claimed its place as the third biggest biopic ever released. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie continued the momentum for gaming IP, becoming the third biggest video game adaptation of all time. Project Hail Mary delivered a standout performance as the seventh biggest sci-fi film ever released.
Horror also proved its strength, with Backrooms achieving the fourth biggest opening ever for a horror film. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft recorded the fifth biggest documentary opening of all time, reinforcing the growing appetite for eventised non-fiction storytelling in cinema.
The momentum extended beyond individual titles, with Mother’s Day weekend also recording its biggest box office result of all time.
Val Morgan Cinema managing director Guy Burbidge said: “What May proved is that strong box office performance is built on breadth. This wasn’t a month carried by one film or one audience; it was the diversity of titles driving attendance among all key demographics.
It’s a reminder that Australians love cinema, and that the big screen will always be part of Australian culture and entertainment habits, with an experience they simply can’t get at home.”
“The outlook for the rest of the year is exceptionally strong, with huge IP still to come in Toy Story 5, Minions & Monsters, The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, alongside unique titles and original content such as Digger, The Social Reckoning and Wild Horse Nine, further expanding the depth of the slate.” Burbridge said.
