More than 20,000 movie lovers converged on United Cinemas Narellan during December and January to see the epic flick, which has made more than $2.2billion worldwide and is nominated for nine Academy Awards including best picture and best director.

Owner Roy Mustaca called the summer months ``very special'' and the movie starring Aussie Sam Worthington his favourite of the past year.

``Definitely Avatar I have seen it three times and I don't normally see movies more than once,'' said the enthusiastic Mr Mustaca, a former entertainer.

``I enjoyed the experience with the 3D; 3D certainly gave us a further enjoyment but the movie itself certainly would've delivered [just in 2D].''

As always, the summer months were the busiest.

``We all did more than expected,'' said Mr Mustaca, whose all-time favourite movie is Oscar-winning Ben-Hur.

``Two things one: the movies were fantastic and then, two: we had the weather as well and that plays a part. We've done very well throughout the summer.''

More than 81,000 big-screen fanatics attended the eight-screen cinema complex over December and January.

Mr Mustaca said he would hold a fund-raising night within the next two months to help victims of the January 12 Haiti earthquake, which killed about 200,000 people.