A movie can have rough critic scores and still steamroll the box office, and this week’s numbers prove it. We come in buzzing about big upcoming releases (yes, we talk about the Odyssey trailer hype) and then immediately put our own forecasting skills on trial with a fresh round of box office predictions vs reality.

From there, we dig into what’s actually working for audiences right now. We recap the surprise strength of Michael and the huge opening for Devil Wears Prada (plus how advanced screenings can juice the totals), and we shout out a local win with Sergeant Honey. Then we pivot to new movies worth your time: Sheep Detectives delivers a clever family-friendly mystery with a genuinely funny hook, Mortal Kombat 2 brings R-rated franchise chaos with Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, and The Drama goes dark with a wedding-week confession that flips a relationship inside out.

We also get honest about the movie theater experience and the film industry economics behind the ticket counter: phones in the auditorium, rising fuel and delivery costs, and why some cinemas are drawing a hard line on Afterpay. If you care about movies, New Zealand cinema, and the future of affordable moviegoing, you’ll find plenty to argue with and plenty to agree with. Subscribe, share this with a movie friend, and leave a review with your best box office guess for next week.

Book your tickets to the movies at Cathay Cinemas Kerikeri here - or at Lido Cinema Hamilton here!