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Transformers One dominates China’s box office amidst a quiet weekend
A surprising weekend for Chinese cinemas
In an unexpected turn of events, Transformers One claimed the top spot at the Chinese box office during its debut weekend. This animated spin-off from the beloved Transformers franchise, which has a massive following in China, was the only major release on an atypical Friday, just ahead of the National Day holiday season. This timing contributed to the lowest-grossing weekend of the year for mainland Chinese cinemas.
Transformers One: A strong debut
Released just a week after its North American premiere, Transformers One https://trailers.movieetv.com/search/transformers-one managed to earn $4.9 million over the weekend, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Including its previews, the film’s total earnings in China reached $8.0 million by Sunday. This performance underscores the enduring popularity of the Transformers series in the region.
Like a Rolling Stone: A tale of empowerment
Securing the second spot, Like a Rolling Stone tells the compelling story of a 50-year-old woman who decides to take control of her life and embarks on a transformative driving tour. The film earned RMB15.2 million ($2.3 million) over the weekend, bringing its 15-day cumulative total to $15.6 million. This drama resonates with audiences, reflecting a growing trend of films that focus on personal empowerment and self-discovery.
Stand by Me: A heartwarming journey
Stand by Me, which narrates the touching story of two orphaned or abandoned children who find solace in each other as teenagers, slipped from first to third place. The film grossed $1.8 million over the weekend, pushing its cumulative earnings to $33 million since its release on September 13. Starring Karry Wang, the leader of the popular TFBoys boy band, the movie continues to draw audiences with its heartfelt narrative.
Alien: Romulus and Go for Broke: Persistent performers
Alien: Romulus made a notable reappearance in the top-five chart, earning $1.1 million and advancing its total to $131 million since its release on August 16. Similarly, the Chinese title Go for Broke also re-entered the top five, earning $1.0 million for a cumulative total of $65.2 million, also since August 16. These films demonstrate the staying power of well-crafted stories that captivate audiences over extended periods.
A challenging weekend for the box office
Artisan Gateway reports that the nationwide box office aggregate over the weekend was a mere $16.1 million. This leaves the year-to-date running total at $4.88 billion, which is approximately 23% lower than the figure at this time last year. The industry now places significant hopes on the upcoming National Day titles to boost box office revenues.
Upcoming releases: A beacon of hope
The National Day holiday season is set to bring a slew of new releases, starting with The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death, the second part of a war trilogy by Chen Kaige, launching on Monday. Following closely on Tuesday, October 1, are several highly anticipated films:
- The Hutong Cowboy, a comedy-drama by Ning Hao and Xu Lei
- Bureau 749, a sci-fi monster film by Lu Chuan
- Give You A Candy, a disaster drama by Liu Jiangjiang
- High Forces, an action thriller by Oxide Pang
- Tiger Wolf Rabbit, a crime film by Wu Bai
- Panda Plan, an action-comedy starring Jackie Chan by Zhang Luan
- New Happy Dad and Son 6: Shrunk, a Chinese animation
- A Tapestry of a Legendary Land, adapted from a stage production
These releases are expected to rejuvenate the box office and attract large audiences, providing a much-needed boost to the industry.
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