The company was established by dentist Arthur Russell in Melbourne, Victoria in 1908, showing films in a hired hall.

After expansion into other states and several changes of ownership, the majority of HOYTS was acquired by a Chinese conglomerate, the Wanda Group, in 2015.

In 1908, he started presenting moving pictures at St George's Hall in Bourke Street,[2] accompanying the silent films with his small family band: his wife on piano, son on drums, and Russell on cornet.

In 1988, HOYTS bought out Interstate Theaters, which made its expansion into the United States market.

In the same year, the late Kerry Packer's private family company, Consolidated Press Holdings, bought the chain for $620 million.

[6][7] In 2004, HOYTS joined forces with Village Roadshow and Amalgamated Holdings Limited to bail out Val Morgan Cinema Advertising, eventually taking their stake to 100% in 2005.

In December that year, Publishing & Broadcasting Limited and West Australian Newspapers purchased the company from Consolidated Press.

[8][9] Damian Keogh was appointed chief executive officer, and HOYTS was bought by Chinese billionaire Sun Xishuang through his investment company ID Leisure Ventures in December 2014.

[10] In 2018, HOYTS Kiosk DVD vending machines were rebranded as Video Ezy after the group sold its subsidiary.

[17][18][19] Seats that move and vibrate in synchronisation with on-screen action have been introduced at some cinemas using D-Box technology.

The company's first films include The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, The Stud, The Boys from Brazil, Dawn!

In 1993, the entertainment branch of HOYTS was spun off to Television and Media Services, with the unit being renamed to TMS Distribution.

In addition to Columbia Pictures and TriStar fare through the main label, the company also held rights to Cannon and other releases via HOYTS , and starting in 1990, Orion Pictures releases via that company's worldwide distribution deal with Columbia.