Crime-thriller The Dry was shot in the Wimmera and Mallee in 2019 and stars Eric Bana as a police detective investigating a murder-suicide in a small country town.

The film made its world premiere in Horsham in December and was released in Australia and New Zealand on New Years Day.

It has already grossed $3.5 million since release, the fifth-best debut for an Australian filmmaker behind only world-renown directors Baz Luhrmann and George Miller.

The incredible turnout comes despite many Australian cinemas being capped at 75 per cent capacity.

Horsham Centre Cinema manager Kerry Bolwell said there was an incredible turnout in the Wimmera.

"It is probably the most people we've seen in a cinema since we reopened after COVID-restrictions lifted," she said.

"It's definitely bringing people back to the cinema in the Wimmera, which is great to see.

"It's just good to see people getting back out and about again."

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Ms Bolwell said the cinema was getting between 80 and 120 people for each session of The Dry at key times.

"If it was any other year and we didn't have so many restrictions, I would say we'd probably be getting a lot more than that as well," she said.

At the film's premiere at Horsham, film director Robert Connolly hoped the film's success could also bring an economic benefit to the region.

"I think people will see the film and want to come and travel out here," he said.

"There's a real history of people seeing Australian cinema and wanting to go where the films were made.

"I hope it's going to generate some economic benefit (for the Wimmera) in terms of people who want to travel out here."

Eric Bana also took to Twitter to thank moviegoers for the incredible turnout.

"It's now official, the Australian public have turned our movie into a hit," he said.

"Thank you to everyone venturing back to your local cinema."

For the Horsham Centre Cinema, Ms Bowell said it was fantastic to see an Australian film getting patrons back through the door.

"We've got some really great Australian cinema at the moment and so many people have been saying how great they are, and how good Australian films are.

"There is some really great, adult Australian films coming out right now. People in the middle to older age bracket absolutely love it."

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