FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENEW DATA REVEALS WHAT MOVIES AND SHOWS AUSSIESWERE RENTING AND BUYING AMIDST THE PANDEMIC
Can you guess what came out on top?
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2021: ​The Australian Home Entertainment Distributors
Association (AHEDA) reveals the most-watched and best-selling movie and television titles for 2020,
uncovering new home entertainment consumption trends aligned with the impact of COVID-19.
When Australia’s population was looking for a welcome distraction in their homes amidst 2020, theconsumption of home entertainment reached an all-time high during the peak of the pandemic.
With a wide breadth of titles and easy access to multiple platforms, it’s little wonder that in April digitalpurchase reached +55% and in May +29%. Digital rental followed a similar trend; in April it was +49%
and May saw +43%. Furthermore, Amazon Prime Video launched its service to buy and rent movies andTV in May, expanding the competitive landscape beyond Apple TV, Google Play, Foxtel Store, YouTube,
Telstra Box Office and Fetch, in addition to gaming platforms such as PlayStation and Xbox.
Jim Batchelor, Chairman, AHEDA said:​ “​ Australian consumers clearly embraced the ease and choice that
digital platforms offered during the lockdown and I’m certain that this trend will continue in the future.”
As the physical cinematic experience came to a halt and new release titles were expedited to digitalplatforms, owning and renting movies immediately following their premiere, had never been easier ormore affordable.​ ​It’s clear that​ ​consumers turned to digital entertainment to provide a welcome
distraction, and also to connect them to friends and family.
The star-studded action-comedy ​Jumanji: The Next Level​ (Sony), was the top-performing and mostpurchased film of 2020, followed by action-adventure comedy film based on the Sonic video game​ Sonic
The Hedgehog​ (Paramount), and animated hit ​Frozen 2​ (Disney).
Oscar-nominated film the​ Joker​ (​2019​) (Roadshow) taking out the most-watched film in the digitalrenting category, followed by ​Sonic The Hedgehog​ (Paramount) and ​The Gentleman​ (​2019​) (Roadshow).
Batchelor said: “Jumanji has proven to be the perfect film for 2020. Fun and action for all the family, agreat cast and a little nostalgia to get us through a tough year.”
It didn’t stop at films, television caught our attention too with ​Outlander ​– the complete 5​th​ series (Sony)taking out the number one spot of most purchased in the category, followed by ​Brooklyn 99​ – thecomplete 7​th​ series (Universal), and the ​100​ – the complete 7​th​ series (Warner Bros). Interestingly, themuch-hyped series ​The Undoing​ starring Nicole Kidman made its way into the top 5 for the year having
only been made available from November.

The most-transacted Australian produced titles across digital platforms included: ​Ride Like a Girl ​(Sony)​,Invisible​ ​Man ​(​2020​) (Universal), ​Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (​Roadshow).
The closure of cinemas through the middle of the year and the subsequent lack of theatrical films
therefore flowing onto the digital transactional services meant a decline in consumption. Digitalpurchase was -26% in Q3 and digital rental followed a similar pattern, though not as sharp, with adecline of -12% in Q3.
The cinematic disruption, aligned with the consequences of the pandemic, positively impacted thedigital transaction market, leading to a resurgence in classic films and fan favourites. As the availabilityof new release content started to slow, Australian’s accessed much-loved classics including titles such as
Game of Thrones​, ​Lord of the Rings​ and ​Harry Potter​.
Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Telstra Box Office, and Fetch offer acomprehensive selection of films - available shortly after their cinema release - allowing Aussies toaccess the titles they want, when they want, from preferred digital platforms, unlike streaming services.
Top 10 Best Selling Movies
1. Jumanji: The Next Level (Sony)
2. Sonic The Hedgehog (Paramount)
3. Frozen 2 (Disney)
4. Joker (​2019​) (Roadshow)
5. Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise Of Skywalker (Disney)
6. Bad Boys For Life (Sony)
7. The Gentlemen (Roadshow)
8. Bloodshot (Sony)
9. Scoob! (Warner Bros)
10. Ford V Ferrari (Disney)
Top 10 Rented Movies
1. Joker (​2019​) (Roadshow)
2. Sonic The Hedgehog (Paramount)
3. The Gentlemen (Roadshow)
4. Jumanji: The Next Level (Sony)5. Gemini Man (​2019)​ (Paramount)
6. 1917 (Entertainment One)
7. Knives Out (Sony)
8. Ford V Ferrari (Disney)
9. Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood (Sony)
10. Hustlers (Roadshow)
Top 10 TV Series
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Outlander - The Complete 5th Series (Sony)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - The Complete 7th Series (Universal)
The 100 - The Complete 7th Series (Warner Bros)
Vikings - The Complete 6th Series (MGM)The Undoing - The Complete 1st Series (HBO)6. Supernatural - The Complete 15th Series (Warner Bros)
7. Big Little Lies - The Complete 2nd Series (HBO)
8. Game Of Thrones - The Complete 8th Series (HBO)
9. Chernobyl - The Complete 1st Series (HBO)
10. Succession - The Complete 1st Series (HBO)
Top 10 Australian Produced Movies
1. Ride Like A Girl (Sony)
2. The Invisible Man (​2020)​ (Universal)
3. Miss Fisher & The Crypt Of Tears (Roadshow)
4. Danger Close: The Battle Of Long Tan (Sony)
5. 100% Wolf (Universal)
6. Go! (Roadshow)
7. Peter Rabbit (Sony)
8. Black Water: Abyss (Universal)
9. Carl Barron - Drinking With A Fork (Universal)
10. The Nightingale (Sony)– ENDS –For more information about AHEDA and to arrange an interview, please contact Candid Comms:- Olivia Meena, ​olivia@candidcomms.com.au​, 0403 646 259- Jodie Moses, ​jodie@candidcomms.com.au​, 0438 603 837
ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN HOME ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION​: The Australian HomeEntertainment Distributors Association (AHEDA) represents the $1 billion Australian film and TV homeentertainment industry covering both digital content and packaged goods (DVD and Blu-ray). The Association
speaks and acts on behalf of its members on issues that affect the industry as a whole such as: intellectual
property theft and enforcement, classification, media access, technology challenges, copyright and media
convergence. AHEDA works closely with a range of stakeholders to achieve its aims including government,
media and industry. AHEDA is also increasingly looking to work with members and broader industry
participants to conduct relevant channel campaigns and activities to promote the home entertainment filmand TV sector.