It has been a difficult three years for cinema operators, who’ve had to contend with the turmoil and uncertainty of the global pandemic along with delayed and limited releases from the big US movie studios.

But with the return of a steady stream of Blockbuster movies things are looking up for 2023 says Orange’s Odeon 5 cinema manager, Mitzi Cronk.

“We really struggled during Covid, really, really struggled, Everyone was so used to staying home, they had all their streaming services, they were so used to the comfort of their own home and it did take a bit of work to get some customers back here,” Mitzi said.

But bringing a crowd-adverse movie-going public back into cinemas was an even more difficult task when there were few big drawcard titles coming out of the US studios.

“It was up to America at one point as well,” Mitzi said of the US-based movie studios. “We were like, come on, please pull it together! But when [they] were back on their feet, that's when we got back on our feet as well.”

It was the late 2021 release of the latest James Bond instalment No time to Die that saw the first big return of local cinema crowds, Mitzi said.

Then in 2022, it was the smash-hit sequel Top Gun: Maverick, Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and James Cameron’s long-awaited Avatar: The Way of the Water that saw movie-lovers flock back to the silver screen.

“So all the blockbusters are getting released in America again, which is good – it’s picking up again now,” Mitzi said.

“Everything that got put off in COVID times, they had a bit of a break and then they've come back to finish the film, so they are just getting released now — it'll be a busy next few years!”

However, his school holidays are all about The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which looks like being a hit with people of all ages: the much-loved video game franchise being almost 40 years old this year!

“Mario is a big part of a lot of people's childhoods and so that'll be pretty big, we think!” Mitzi said.

With the worst of the pandemic hopefully behind us, Mitzi and the Odeon 5 crew have been busy giving the cinema a refurbishment and reinventing the space as somewhere people can come and socialise, rather than just watching a movie and moving on.

“The outside of the building has got a fresh paint job, we want it to look fresh and inviting and we've done that. The cinemas themselves needed a bit of work, a bit of sprucing up, so we’re working on all that, replacing some seats and adding brand new seats,” Mitzi said.

“And we are trying to create a bit more of a community, social vibe here at the cinema. We’ve got tables and chairs out, so you're welcome to sit around and socialise before the movie or after the movie. You don't have to just leave and go home; you can stay here with your friends,” she explained.

“And we have a coffee machine coming soon. So that'll be good, we'll be able to do some proper coffees and people can come in earlier and have a coffee, or stay a bit later and have a coffee after.”

Also on the social side of things, Mitzi said they are looking to push and promote more ‘event’ screenings.

“Like girls’ nights, guys’ nights, fundraisers, birthday parties, seniors mornings… We're just trying to show people that you can come out with a bit of a crowd, come and enjoy the cinema again,” she said.

“So birthday parties: you choose a movie, choose what time you want to watch it, you don't have to pay for the party room, you can bring stuff to decorate it and you can bring your cake and we'll pop it in our fridge.

“As long as there's 8 to 10 people (minimum) we don't really mind. We just want people to create memories here and have a bit of fun and get out of the house.”