Budgets and Box Offices

It might be high art or popcorn trash, but a film’s success often boils down to the money. How much did it make? How much did it cost? And do audiences feel it was worth the $20 ticket price?

Film studios, with budgets that dwarf the economies of small nations, will splash the cash in the hope of big box-office returns – something they share with politicians come election time. But investors, and voters, are always keen to see that their money is well spent.

As ever, the economy was a big topic this year. In August the federal government hosted 30 leaders from the business community, the union movement and civil society in an economic roundtable. The goal, according to the prime minister, was to ‘build the broadest possible base of support for further economic reform’. The pre-election Budget, a super tax on wealthy retirees, US tariffs and concerns about interest rates also made headlines in 2025.