Australia’s Val Morgan cinema is reporting record turnouts at its theatres during the 2023-24 summer with 9.8 million patrons.
This season has seen various remakes of the older successful films such as Mean Girls and Willy Wonka turned into musically inclined adaptations attracting a reminiscent viewership.
Gen- Z and millennials are leading the movement with 48 per cent of total admissions falling under the 14 to 39 age group, drawn to titles like Anyone but You, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Mean Girls.
The Sydney-based modern romcom Anyone but You won over Gen-Z hearts with 1.04 million admissions, 48 per cent of viewers being between the ages of 14 – 24 age group.
The star of the season has been Wonka, which since its release on December 14 has attracted multigenerational appeal and over 2.05 million admissions nation-wide.
The film has also surpassed the box office performance of the original 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the acclaimed Tim Burton’s 2005 film adaptation Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Guy Burbidge, managing director of Val Morgan Cinema said the successful films were shaped by powerful titles centered around strong female characters. “Amongst a very diverse slate, we’ve witnessed a predominantly female-led summer at the cinema, driven by compelling narratives that highlight and celebrate the strength of female characters,” he said.