Australian films have raked in $13.7 million at the national box-office this year, a brighter start than the first four months of 2013.
Jonathan Teplitzky’s The Railway Man still ranks as the top title, making $5.5 million this calendar year and $7.3 million since its Boxing Day launch.
Greg Mclean’s Wolf Creek 2 wound up with $4.7 million, a solid number but below the original’s $6.1 million in 2005.
John Curran’s Tracks has taken $2.36 million, a modest result given the mostly positive reviews, Transmission's extensive publicity campaign and Mia Wasikowska’s performance as Robyn Davidson.
The one costly misfire is Stuart Beattie’s $65 million I, Frankenstein, whose fate was probably sealed after the action-horror film bombed in the US in January.
It’s too early to judge the potential of Sophie Hyde’s 52 Tuesdays, which opened on May 1.
Hidden Universe 3D, Backyard Ashes, Lygon Street: Si Parla Italiano and Uncharted Waters: The Wayne Lynch Story continued from last year, advancing to, in order, $649,000, $410,000, $277,000 and $113,000.
All told, that’s a better performance than the first four months of 2013 when Save Your Legs!, Blinder and Goddess all under-performed and Return to Nim’s Island finished up with $1.2 million.
IF’s chart does not show 2013 releases such as Tim Winton’s The Turning, The Darkside, Satellite Boy and The Rocket which earned small sums this year but those figures are counted in the total.
The outlook is promising with Craig Monahan’s Healing opening on 40 screens this Thursday and Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook, Rhys Graham’s Galore, David Michôd's The Rover, Rolf de Heer’s Charlie’s Country and Zak Hilditch’s These Final Hours scheduled to bow in the next few months.
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AUSTRALIAN FILMS SCORECARD 2014
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Title |
Release Date |
Total |
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1 |
The Railway Man |
Dec 26 2013 |
$5,532,895*
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|
2 |
Wolf Creek 2 |
February 20 |
4,728,171
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3 |
Tracks |
March 6 |
2,362,090
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4 |
I, Frankenstein |
March 20 |
388,276
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5 |
Hidden Universe 3D |
Sept 5 2013 |
188,121*
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|
6 |
Backyard Ashes |
Nov 7 2013 |
168,357*
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|
7
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Lygon Street: Si Parla Italiano |
Nov 14 2013 |
113,632* |
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8 |
Convict |
January 23 |
60,281 |
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9 |
52 Tuesdays |
May 1 |
49,665 |
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10 |
Antarctica |
1996 |
25,658* |
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11 |
Uncharted Waters |
Nov 18 |
23,422 |
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12 |
Canopy |
April 24 |
20,699 |
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13 |
The Crossing |
April 24 |
9,236 |
Source: Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia
*Calendar 2014 gross