by FIlmInk Staff
HOYTS Cinemas, Australia’s number one cinema chain with more than 30% of national admissions and IMAX Corporation has announced an agreement for 10 new state-of-the-art IMAX® with Laser locations across Australia and New Zealand. The deal will significantly expand the companies’ existing partnership — reignited last year with an agreement for four new IMAX locations. The latest expansion marks the largest IMAX agreement to date for Australia, nearly doubling IMAX’s footprint in the region.
In total, IMAX’s partnership with HOYTS will grow from four locations to 14 over the next two years. At least three new locations are set to open before the end of 2026, with additional locations set to open throughout 2027 and 2028.
HOYTS Group CEO and President Damian Keogh said he’s delighted that more Australian moviegoers will be able to experience IMAX with Laser at HOYTS cinemas.
“Expanding our partnership with IMAX marks another step in strengthening HOYTS’ position as Australia’s leading cinema circuit, while continuing to elevate the cinema experience for audiences nationwide,” Damian said.
“The strong performance of our four existing HOYTS IMAX locations, launched at the end of 2025, reflect the growing demand for premium cinema experiences. As more movies are being specifically designed for this format, expanding our partnership with IMAX comes at exactly the right time.”
Giovanni Dolci, Chief Commercial Officer, IMAX said the expansion makes perfect sense due to the strong existing partnership and the growth IMAX has seen in Australia, as compared to global markets.
“This second agreement with HOYTS within a year highlights the accelerating momentum we’re seeing across Australia and reinforces the strength of IMAX in the market,” Giovanni said.
“Australia is one of our highest-performing markets globally, where demand for IMAX has outstripped our footprint. Together with HOYTS — an outstanding partner with a strong track record of delivering premium cinema experiences — we’re moving quickly to meet that demand and bring the IMAX experience to more audiences.”
The new HOYTS IMAX locations will be equipped with IMAX with Laser, IMAX’s most advanced cinema experience. Developed from the ground up for maximum immersion, IMAX with Laser delivers crystal-clear 4K images, precision audio, and state-of-the-art projection technology, setting a new standard for moviegoing.
The system features a groundbreaking optical engine, custom-designed lenses, and proprietary IMAX technology that delivers brighter images, deeper contrast, and the widest range of colours exclusively to IMAX screens.
IMAX has seen explosive growth in Australia, expanding from just one location in 2022 to 10 today, with another 14 in backlog inclusive of this agreement. In 2025, the IMAX footprint more than doubled in the country, with six new locations opening across Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth — most ahead of the premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the second best IMAX title ever in the market.
Last year marked the best-ever performance at the box office for IMAX Australia, delivering a record AUD $18.6 million ($12.1million USD) in box office. Australia has consistently ranked among the top markets for IMAX in recent years and is currently ninth overall. That strength has continued this year, with three locations – including HOYTS Chadstone – ranking among the top 30 IMAX locations worldwide.
The market is also seeing strong momentum with Filmed For IMAX titles — Project Hail Mary notched the second biggest opening weekend ever for IMAX in Australia and ranks among the top 10 IMAX titles ever in the market.
The momentum will continue with the upcoming 2026 Filmed For IMAX slate, which includes the Warner Bros. release Mortal Kombat II and Disney/Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu in May.
To see the latest movie releases and session times at HOYTS, go to https://www.hoyts.com.au/
