The biggest drawcard for many was the opening day of The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies, with a queue for the 7.40pm screening stretching out of the cinema and around the corner at one point.

Marong resident Callum Williamson, 20, who arrived shortly before the 9.10pm screening, said he was looking forward to the final film installment based on J R R Tolkien's famous novels.

"I'm a big fan of Lord of the Rings," he said.

His friend Lockwood resident Chris Hughes, 20, said he was also looking forward it, albeit with a touch of sadness.

"I'm slightly disappointed it's the last one," he said.

Other cinema goers, including Heather Leech from Kangaroo Flat and her friend Les Scascighini, from Melbourne, were looking forward to seeing The Water Diviner.

"It should be a great movie," Mr Scascighini said.

For Mick and Janet Cook, who were there with relative Breanna Cook from Tasmania, The Water Diviner held a lot of promise.

"We've seen war graves around Europe, it will be special to see it," Mrs Cook said.

Bendigo Cinema duty manager Greg O'Connell said the cinema was expecting to reach about 3000 ticket sales for the day before night was through. 

"It's the busiest Boxing Day in quite a few years," he said.

Mr O'Connell said it was busier than last year's Boxing Day takings by a couple of hundred tickets at least. 

He said while Hobbit was "definitely" the most popular and The Water Diviner "doing really well", all of the day's movies were well frequented by patrons.