New Zealand Box Office Impresses in 2018

23 January 2019

2018 New Zealand Film Industry Box Office Statistics

The 2018 New Zealand motion picture industry recorded a very pleasing uplift over the prior year, generating $203,418,000 at the Box office. (2017 $189,660,000)

This result represents the second highest ever Box Office take, coming in just behind the 2016 record year which sits at $206,605,000.

The quality and mix of genres were part of the key to achieving this result. Disney impressively took out the top three positions with AVENGERS:INFINITY WAR leading the way with $10,359,640 ranking it the 10th biggest release here of all time. In second place was INCREDIBLES 2 with $7,762,148 and in third spot was BLACK PANTHER, which earned $7,259,629.

MAMMA MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN grossed $6,206,904, followed by the story of world renowned band, Queen and Freddie Mercury. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY earned $6,206,904 to the end of December 2018. It continues to play in theatres around New Zealand in its twelfth week of release. A STAR IS BORN grossed $5,425,569 and it also continues to play in select cinemas in its fourteenth week. JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM earned $5,099,653, DEADPOOL 2 $4,999,093, followed by family friendly PETER RABBIT with $4,513,380 and rounding out the top 10 films was FANTASTIC BEATS :THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWIND with $4,043,282.

“ The terrific mix of quality product and genres were a key element in achieving the strong box office result for the industry in 2018, together with the opening of the new world class 7 screen multiplex in central Christchurch by Hoyts Cinemas, which has performed very well since opening in September 2018” said MPDA Chair, Peter Garner. “ It is most pleasing to see the two major chains, Event Cinemas and Hoyts Cinemas investing heavily in new multiplex builds to support growth in the industry and offering top quality entertainment venues within which New Zealanders can enjoy the very popular out of home movie going experience. The quality of product for 2019 looks to be as equally as strong and bodes well for another great year for the industry. ” he said.

The total number of films released in 2018 was 487, up 12% on the prior year and underscores the variety of film choices that were available to movie goers last year.
The highest grossing New Zealand film in 2018 was THE BREAKER UPPERERS which grossed $1,776,484.

Challenges remain in how the Digital convergence Bill and Copyright Act review will impact the wider industry which seeks to protect its Intellectual property and loss of revenue from illegal downloading. The release of the issues paper on the reivew of the Copyright Act in November was welcomed by the wider industry as it is an important opportunity for the industry to be heard and recognised.

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