Eat.Sleep.Movie.Repeat

You can feel it when a film starts to catch. We open with a box office reality check on Heart of the Beast, then zoom out to the bigger question every movie fan has right now: what actually gets people off the couch and back into theaters in 2026? 

Dan from Matakana Cinemas joins us to talk about Big Girls Don’t Cry, an R16 New Zealand coming-of-age drama with genuine local DNA. We dig into why word of mouth matters more than ever, how Q&As change the energy of a screening, and why a filmmaker returning to...

A box office “miss” can still become a lifelong favorite and Tombstone is the proof. We sit down with our first-ever guest, Constable Bryan Ward to unpack why this 1993 Western keeps getting rewatched, re-quoted, and re-loved. From “I’m Your Huckleberry” to the Latin back-and-forth, we dig into what made Doc Holliday iconic and why Val Kilmer’s performance still feels untouchable.

We also bring our usual movie podcast chaos: a reality check on last week’s box office prediction for Practical Magic 2, plus the bigger question behind the numbers. When does nostalgia actually fill seats, and when does a se...

Spider-Man finally gives up the top spot, and somehow that’s not the headline. The real story is what the New Zealand box office looks like when one mega hit soaks up all the oxygen and everything else fights for scraps. We’re Brent Harbour and Ross Churchell, and we kick things off by asking what’s actually happening in cinemas right now, because the numbers are telling a surprisingly blunt truth about audience attention.

Then we get into the week’s biggest cautionary tale: Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars. On paper, it’s a dream package of d...

Spider-Man is still sitting on the throne, Odyssey won’t stop printing money, and that success is creating a weird problem: smaller movies can’t get out of the gate. We dig into the New Zealand box office numbers, what that dominance does to new releases, and why it’s both great news and a real headache for anyone trying to launch a mid-sized film or a festival gem.

Then we zoom out to the bigger cinema industry shift we’re hearing about: studios planning to extend theatrical windows again starting in 2027. We talk through what a longer c...

Spider-Man isn’t just “doing well” right now, it’s detonating records and dragging the whole theatrical ecosystem upward with it. We break down what those massive numbers mean through a New Zealand cinema lens: packed sessions, repeat viewings, and the underrated ripple effect where one blockbuster primes audiences for everything else playing on the big screen. If you’ve missed the feeling of theaters buzzing, this is the kind of weekend that brings it back.

From there, we pivot to what’s new and worth your time. The End Of Oak Street is our big spotlight pick, a tigh...

Spider-Man is not just “back” right now, it’s steamrolling the conversation, the queues, and the box office. We’re recording while Ross is mid-shift at Cathay Cinemas, running on a skeleton crew, watching packed sessions roll in, and counting a truly absurd number of popcorn scoops. That real-world cinema perspective sets the tone for a grounded, numbers-driven chat about what’s pulling people off the couch and into a dark room for two hours. 

We break down the New Zealand box office result for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and why a director’s brand can add real lift e...

We settle our Moana box office bet and dig into why critics and audiences can see the same movie so differently. Then we look ahead to a packed slate, celebrate indie cinema community, remember Sam Neill, and put our money down on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. 
• school holiday box office context and why legs matter after July 
• Moana live-action numbers and what “underperform” really means 
• Rotten Tomatoes critic score vs audience score as a signal 
• upcoming releases including Spider-Man Brand New Day, Eye Object, Savage House, and NZ International Film Festival 
• why longer runtimes change the t...

We argue over New Zealand box office wins and losses as Toy Story surges on nostalgia while Minions and Monsters opens far below expectations. Then we preview the school holiday slate and put bold opening-week numbers on the line for Moana Live Action while sharing indie and upcoming films we think could surprise. 
• reconciling our box office guesses and the running scoreboard 
• why Toy Story connects with both kids and adults 
• why Minions and Monsters may be delayed by holiday timing 
• quick recommendations for The Invite and Jackass Best and Last 
• Moana Live Action cast details an...

A movie can be genuinely fun, get decent reviews, and still face-plant at the box office, and that contradiction kicks off our latest chat. We’re Brent Harbour and Ross Church, and we open with a hard look at Masters of the Universe in New Zealand cinemas, why the numbers stall, and why timing and money anxiety can matter more than nostalgia. Box office results don’t automatically equal quality, but they do reveal what audiences are willing to pay for right now. 

From there, we zoom out to the school holiday movie season and the real-world chall...

A thunderstorm is hammering down outside, which makes our favorite idea sound even better: go sit in a dark theater and let a movie do the heavy lifting. We kick things off by settling last week’s box office prediction and talking through what Mandalorian and Grogu’s performance really suggests about fandom turnout, week two drop-offs, and why “solid” movies don’t always translate into record-breaking global numbers.

From there we jump straight into a big nostalgia swing: Masters of the Universe. We break down the premise (Adam, the Sword of Power, Eternia, and Skeletor), the risk of re...

Star Wars is finally back on the big screen for the first time in 10 years, and we’re not easing into it. We talk The Mandalorian And Grogu, why Grogu still feels like peak Star Wars, and how practical creatures and old-school filmmaking tricks can add a kind of grounded magic that CGI alone can’t replicate. Then we put our reputations on the line with opening weekend box office predictions and ask the real question: is this a massive comeback, or are audiences ready to move on?

Before we jump to hyperspace, we reconcile our last pred...

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 loca...

A romantic comedy opens during school holidays and gets absolutely steamrolled at the box office. That one result kicks off a bigger conversation we all feel as moviegoers but rarely name out loud: release timing can matter as much as the movie itself. I’m joined by cinema insider Ross Churchell as we unpack how school-holiday crowds reshape programming, why adults and retirees “rediscover” the cinema right after the kids go back to school, and what that awkward in-between period means for New Zealand cinemas trying to keep seats filled.

Then we jump to what’s next on the b...

You can tell it’s the school holidays the moment the rain hits: queues get longer, faces get more stressed, and the same question keeps coming up at the counter. Will we get in. We kick things off with the moviegoing advice we wish every family heard before jumping in the car, from when to visit during peak holiday crowds to why booking ahead saves your whole day.

From there we zoom out into the New Zealand box office and what it reveals about timing. Why do some kids’ movies start slow and then surge. Why do holi...

School holidays don’t just test your patience, they test your planning. We kick things off by settling our Oscars scorecard and checking how our New Zealand box office predictions stacked up, then we jump straight into the real question parents are asking: what’s actually worth seeing at the cinema over the break?

We walk through a lineup built for families and kids, including The Magic Faraway Tree and why nostalgia is driving interest, the Super Mario Galaxy movie as the likely blockbuster, and Pixar’s Hoppers as a younger-leaning animated pick with a clear environmental messag...

Oscars season turns smart people into coin flippers, and we are no exception. We sit down with our ballots open and our confidence shrinking by the minute, then make the call anyway: our final predictions for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture. Along the way we argue the cases for the films and performances that feel like front runners, the ones that might sneak up late, and the reasons our “sure thing” picks keep changing as the Academy Awards buzz shifts.

We also keep it grounded in what’s actu...

The week’s lineup swings from iconic concert energy to sly, satirical thrills to a heartfelt Kiwi adventure—and we’re here for all of it. We kick off with Elvis Presley In Concert, Baz Luhrmann’s restoration that swaps reenactment for the real thing. Unearthed footage from the Vegas years puts you right on stage with Elvis—sweat, swagger, and sly asides intact—beautifully remastered for modern ears and eyes. It’s a rare chance to see why a voice can become a myth and how a myth can still feel human.

Then we tackle a box office rid...

A YouTuber-backed indie horror just ran circles around studio titles at the New Zealand box office—and that upset sets the tone for a week packed with big swings. We start with the data and dig into why Iron Lung connected: a tight hook, social reach, and a promise horror fans could rally around. From there, we turn to three fresh releases competing for very different moods and audiences, mapping out who each film serves and how they might perform once the first-week buzz fades.

First up: Wuthering Heights, led by Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, aims to...

What happens when a creator-led indie horror storms 3,000+ theaters while studio tentpoles still rule the charts? We kick off Season 4 by unpacking a summer that brought crowds back, from Zootopia 2’s family juggernaut to Avatar: Fire and Ash proving its staying power without chasing old records. Then we turn to the wild card everyone’s talking about: Iron Lung, a claustrophobic nightmare born from a cult video game and powered into cinemas by a massive online fanbase. It’s not just a release—it’s a distribution experiment that could reshape how audience-driven films reach the big screen.

We pai...

A year that felt like a cliffhanger deserved a finale with stakes. We open with a candid pulse check on the film industry—streamer chess moves, lawsuits on the horizon, and a box office that held steady only because a few heavy hitters carried the load. From there, we dive into what actually moved audiences. Nuremberg, anchored by a commanding Russell Crowe, started quiet and gathered steam as word spread about its historical accuracy and gripping tension. Then we champion our sleeper of the season: The Housemaid. With Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried trading sharp, twisty turns, this psychological th...

A surprise surge at the box office can change the mood of a season, and Wicked just did exactly that. We unpack why certain titles break through when the economy is rough, how audience behavior shifts toward event value, and what that means as Avatar 3: Fire and Ash barrels toward release with sky-high expectations and even higher costs. The stakes aren’t just bragging rights for opening weekend; they’re a stress test for whether premium spectacle still earns its keep on the big screen.

We dive into the heartbeat of December programming, starting with Nuremberg, a grip...

What happens when a locally made sci-fi brawler outperforms the noise and a buzzy remake doesn’t land? We dig into Predator Badlands’ franchise-best opening and the Running Man’s stumble, then chart a hopeful path forward with Wicked For Good building real momentum. Along the way, we tackle a hard truth: New Zealand’s box office has slid about 15% over recent weeks, with empty prime-time shows even in major cities. Tight budgets, uneven releases, and a chorus of AI-fed hot takes telling people to stay home haven’t helped. Our take: trust your own eyes. Go see movies you’re cur...

Lights flicker, schedules wobble, and we still make it to the movies. We open with a surprising miss: a Hindi vampire romance positioned to ride the Diwali wave that instead sputtered at the New Zealand box office. That sets the tone for a candid look at audience behavior right now—how ratings, region, and timing twist outcomes—and why some films soar in big cities while others struggle to find momentum in smaller markets.

From there, we highlight Train Dreams, a Netflix-bound drama anchored by Joel Edgerton. It’s a slow, textured portrait of a man and a land...

Sunburns, cricket, and school holidays are stealing attention, but the big screen is about to fight back. We open the door on a quieter week in Cinema Land and dig into what actually pulls people off the couch: clear promises, smart timing, and the thrill of a cool, dark room with M&Ms in hand. Our box office game gets real as we reconcile a surprising data point—Taylor Swift’s latest cinema event underdelivered versus the Eras juggernaut, despite topping the global weekend. We unpack why audience expectations matter, how format confusion can sting, and what that means for...

A small victory can change the mood of a whole week. We open by settling our Bad Guys 2 bet, then swing straight into the real work of programming after the school holidays: choosing films that spark curiosity, fill seats, and feel worth the trip. That means championing a few special titles, passing on others (for now), and crafting a lineup that plays to our audience’s taste without playing it safe.

First up: The Ballad of Wallace Island, a heartfelt British comedy with festival praise and a glowing nod from Richard Curtis. One man, one remote island, on...

Economic headwinds continue battering the cinema landscape as we head into the school holiday season. Even star-studded films like "The Roses" featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman are struggling to meet box office expectations, despite strong word-of-mouth driving second-week attendance. What's behind this trend? Is it the R-rating limiting audience size, broader economic factors, or perhaps shifting viewer preferences?

Relief may be coming with the wave of family-friendly releases hitting theaters for the school holidays. "Gabby's Dollhouse" targets the youngest moviegoers (ages 3-8) with its magical story about a girl who transforms into a cartoon character in...

Movie theaters across New Zealand are facing a puzzling paradox. Quality films with strong reviews aren't drawing audiences like they used to, and Liam Neeson's recent comedy "The Naked Gun" perfectly illustrates this challenge. Despite excellent marketing, positive word-of-mouth, and an impressive 88% approval rating, the film struggled to break $336,000 at the New Zealand box office while performing significantly better worldwide.

What's happening to our cinema attendance? It's not that movies are worse – it's that economic realities have shifted dramatically. As everyday expenses climb relentlessly, entertainment becomes a luxury many households simply can't justify. This economic pressure creates a...

Movie theaters are battling their toughest economic climate since the pandemic. Box office numbers are startlingly low – Stephen King's "The Life of Chuck" brought in just $71,000 on opening weekend, a fraction of what would normally be expected. For every cinema opening globally, five are closing as audiences tighten their belts and reconsider entertainment spending.

What makes us choose the big screen experience in 2024? We break down the five critical factors: timing (theaters aren't selling movies, they're selling experiences worth your precious time), convenience (location, parking, session availability), pre-film experience (cleanliness, staff engagement, those dreaded 30-minute pre-shows), viewing en...

Are movie theaters dying or just evolving? That's the question at the heart of our latest deep dive into cinema's current landscape. While studios continue to release films at a breakneck pace, getting audiences through the doors remains the industry's biggest challenge.

Horror films are particularly struggling in New Zealand, with the latest "I Know What You Did Last Summer" installment earning a disappointing $112,000 despite the return of original stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt. This continues a troubling pattern following underperformances from "Megan 2" and "28 Years Later." Could the upcoming R16 horror "Weapons" break this...

The dinosaurs have roared back to life at the box office, and Hollywood might finally be catching its breath. This week we're celebrating Jurassic World Rebirth's spectacular performance - a whopping $2.3 million in New Zealand alone and $335 million globally. After months of underwhelming theatrical releases, this prehistoric powerhouse signals what could be a turning point for cinema attendance.

Our prediction battle continues with Brendan extending his winning streak to three consecutive weeks, correctly anticipating the dinosaur phenomenon while Ross played it too safe. But the real story here is how desperately the industry needed this win. We're...

Movie theaters find themselves at a fascinating crossroads where critical acclaim doesn't necessarily translate to box office success. Disney Pixar's Elio has become their worst opening film worldwide despite positive reviews, while horror sequel Megan 2.0 and the new Karate Kid reboot similarly struggle to find their audiences. This troubling trend reveals how quickly major cinema chains reduce screenings after just one disappointing week, creating a downward spiral where films become increasingly difficult for audiences to discover.

The New Zealand film industry faces similar challenges. Coca, a powerful Māori story that took its director 20 years to bring t...

Why do critically acclaimed female-led action films struggle at the box office? This question takes center stage as we dig into the surprising commercial failure of "Ballerina," the Ana de Armas-starring John Wick spin-off that opened to a mere $363,730 despite strong reviews. The film's underwhelming performance highlights a troubling pattern for female action heroes on the big screen.

From "Atomic Blonde" to the Alicia Vikander "Tomb Raider" reboot and recent "Mad Max: Furiosa," we examine how these films consistently receive positive critical reception but fail to translate that into ticket sales. What does this mean for upcoming...

The theatrical landscape continues its fascinating evolution as major studio releases compete with festival fare and streaming exclusives. We kick off with our regular box office predictions segment, where Mission Impossible's latest installment has performed admirably with a $1.44 million haul. While not reaching the heights some predicted, it demonstrates the franchise's enduring appeal and the emerging pattern of films finding their audience through word-of-mouth rather than opening weekend rushes.

From the world of John Wick comes "Ballerina," starring Ana de Armas as a revenge-seeking assassin trained at the mysterious Ruska Roma ballet academy. Set between John Wick 3...

The latest "Eat Sleep Movie Repeat" conversation takes us on an exciting journey through cinema's present and future as Brent and Ross dive into box office predictions, upcoming releases, and the remarkable success story of New Zealand film.

The friendly competition between our hosts continues with Brent edging ahead 5-4 in their box office prediction battle after correctly anticipating Thunderbolts' New Zealand performance. Though falling slightly short of the million-dollar mark with $935,000, this Marvel entry delivered respectable numbers for Disney during a challenging period for the studio.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning takes center stage...

When rain falls, cinema seats fill—regardless of what's showing. This simple truth provided a much-needed boost to theaters during recent school holidays, as film industry insiders Brent Harbour and Ross Churchhouse discuss in their latest conversation. The duo unpacks how weather patterns directly impact box office results, creating unexpected winners and unfortunate timing casualties among current releases.

"The Penguin Lessons," featuring Steve Coogan, became one such victim of circumstance. Despite glowing audience reviews, the film struggled to find its audience amid the holiday chaos with children flocking to more family-oriented offerings. Several major New Zealand cinema ch...

The Minecraft movie has delivered a seismic shock to the cinema industry, crushing all box office predictions with an astounding $2.99 million opening weekend in New Zealand alone. After months of challenging theatrical returns, this blockbuster adaptation of the beloved game has breathed new life into theaters nationwide, with global earnings exceeding $300 million in its first frame. The film is rapidly closing in on Tina's position as the highest-grossing film of the year in New Zealand, with the local production having recently crossed the impressive $5 million threshold.

School holidays have arrived just in time to capitalize on Minecraft's...

Snow White's troubled journey to theaters reveals the growing chasm between online discourse and actual audience experiences. After enduring an 18-month hate campaign before release, Disney's remake scored a brutal 1.6 on IMDB while simultaneously earning a respectable 74% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. We discuss what this means for the studio and the film industry at large as Disney conducts "serious soul-searching" to recover from underwhelming box office numbers.

Looking ahead to brighter prospects, we preview the Minecraft movie starring Jack Black as Steve alongside Jason Momoa (who was spotted around Ponsonby during filming in New Zealand) and...

The magic of cinema continues to thrive despite economic challenges, as Ross and Brent explore in this captivating episode examining the current state of moviegoing. When looking at cinema affordability, they reveal a surprising fact - while nearly everything else has dramatically increased in price over 25 years, movie tickets have seen relatively modest increases. In 2000, tickets ranged from $9-15, while today they typically cost between $17-25 - making movies still one of the most accessible forms of entertainment compared to concerts or major events.

The duo celebrates a prediction victory as Brent's $450,000 estimate for Mickey 17 came remarkably...

The Oscar results are in, and we're breaking down the winners, surprises, and what they reveal about the changing landscape of cinema. As "Anora" claimed both Best Picture and Best Director, we're witnessing what appears to be a generational shift in the Academy's voting patterns – younger members are changing what gets recognized, signaling an evolution in filmmaking that will shape the next decade of cinema.

Meanwhile, New Zealand film "Tina" is shattering box office expectations, already surpassing $1.2 million in its first week. This heartwarming story has become the definition of a word-of-mouth phenomenon, with audiences of all ag...

Brent and Ross explore the excitement of Oscar season, revealing box office performances of recent releases and diving deep into predictions for the upcoming awards. With heartfelt discussions about emotional films like "Tina" and the latest hot titles, they offer insights and analysis that resonate with movie lovers everywhere.

• Analysis of last week’s box office performance 
• In-depth discussion about "Tina" and audience reactions 
• Highlights of upcoming films like "10 Lives" and "Becoming Led Zeppelin" 
• Host predictions for Best Actor, Actress, and Picture categories 
• Engaging banter about genres, tastes, and Oscar dynamics

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