After a six-year break in their corporate relationship, IMAX Corporation and HOYTS Cinemas today announced a new agreement for up to five IMAX screens in Australia.
The first new IMAX location in this partnership is due to open in Melbourne later this year, ahead of the release of the highly-anticipated, crowd-favourite “Avatar: Fire and Ash”. The previous Avatar movie, “Avatar: The Way of Water”, earned over AUS$3.5 billion globally, with expectations that the new film could do similar box office.
The deal includes a further four locations that will be identified at a later date.
Australia has been identified as a key region for expansion by IMAX with the company revealing plans to have up to forty IMAX screens in Australia. Currently the IMAX theatre in Sydney is the 4th best-performing IMAX location globally, with the Melbourne location ranked 9th.
Overall, Australia currently ranks as the 10th market for IMAX box office. Last year, Australia saw an average of $4.5 million per IMAX screen, securing its position as the top market overall by per-screen-average (PSA). Last week’s release of Warner Bros’ “Superman” on IMAX screens in Australia delivered nearly 6% of box office takings, despite only having four locations in Australia (the other two locations are in Canberra and on the Gold Coast).
The four existing locations in Australia are managed in partnership with EVT, the hospitality company that runs the Event Cinemas chain. EVT has announced plans for three new IMAX screens in 2026 and a fourth in 2027.
“As the pioneer of IMAX screens in multiplex cinema in Australia, HOYTS is delighted to partner with IMAX again. Our foundation site at Melbourne Central will be open for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ with more sites to be announced shortly,” said Damien Keogh, CEO and President of HOYTS Group. “Every one of our cinemas has touch points that elevate them from a usual experience: from the quality of our recliners, through to state-of-the-art technical enhancements. The opportunity to see things on IMAX is really going to enhance HOYTS’ reputation as the premier destination for film experiences.”
“Australia continues to be a priority for IMAX, and this agreement with HOYTS Cinemas to expand and diversify our footprint is just the latest sign of our strong momentum in this thriving moviegoing market,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “HOYTS is an exceptional, well-established exhibitor in Australia and New Zealand, and we’re looking forward to getting back in business with the company to further satisfy surging demand for the IMAX Experience.”
The new HOYTS IMAX locations will install IMAX’s most advanced cinema experience branded “IMAX with Laser”. It promises 4K images, precision audio, and state-of-the-art projection technology. With the bespoke technology created by IMAX, the system features an industry-leading optical engine, custom-designed lenses, and proprietary IMAX technology which delivers brighter images, deeper contrast, and the widest range of available colours.