Australia’s box office has reached a new historic high, with May 2026 overtaking 2019 to become the biggest May of all time.
The month’s box office reached $119 million, surpassing 2019 by 26% and marking a major milestone for the cinema industry while reinforcing the continued strength of theatrical exhibition.
The record month was driven by a mix of high release volume and diverse content, with strong performances across key audience demographics including families, youth and NEOs.
A diverse slate drives attendance
Several major titles helped power the result.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 became the third-biggest comedy of all time, while Michael became 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, while horror also performed strongly, 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.
Mother’s Day weekend also recorded its biggest box office result of all time, highlighting cinema’s role in shared cultural moments and seasonal occasions.
Val Morgan on the record result
Guy Burbidge
Guy Burbidge, Managing Director of Val Morgan Cinema, said the strength of May came from the breadth of the slate.
“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.”
Burbidge said the outlook for the rest of the year remains strong.
“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.”
Top image: Backrooms movie