The complex in Warrwong, on the south coast in New South Wales, was shut after it was believed two armed men were hiding out in the cinema.
Surrounding roads were closed off to the public and SWAT teams were manning the roof during the dramatic siege.
Police hunted for the suspects, believed to have been armed with rifles, in the Hoyts cinemas but they were unable to find anyone.
A 27-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and is being questioned.
“She is currently with police … assisting them with their inquiries,” a spokeswoman said.
The drama began after a security guard spotted two men and a woman in the complex about 6am.
“The two security guards managed to grab a young woman who was with two other males and hold her and detain her, then rang the police,” Nine’s Damien Ryan told Macquarie Radio.
