Alien: Romulus dominates Chinese box office, setting new benchmarks
A stellar performance in China
Alien: Romulus has taken the Chinese box office by storm, becoming Hollywood’s second biggest film of the year in mainland China. The film raked in an impressive RMB140 million ($19.7 million) over the weekend, adding to its already substantial earnings. This strong second weekend performance follows a robust opening weekend of $26.2 million, bringing its cumulative total to RMB523 million ($73.7 million) since its release on August 16.
For those eager to catch a glimpse of this cinematic marvel, you can watch the trailer for Alien: Romulus.
Hollywood’s top contender in 2024
Among Hollywood imports in 2024, Alien: Romulus is second only to the Chinese-backed Godzilla vs. Kong, which amassed a staggering $134 million. In less than two weeks, Alien: Romulus has outpaced several other major Hollywood franchises, surpassing the $50 million mark that many have struggled to reach. For instance, Kung Fu Panda 4 earned $52 million, Despicable Me 4 garnered $56 million, Dune 2 brought in $49.7 million, and Inside Out 2 collected $48 million.
IMAX’s significant contribution
IMAX has reported that Alien: Romulus earned $2.75 million on its screens over the latest weekend. After ten days, the film has accumulated $11.6 million on IMAX screens, accounting for approximately 16% of its total earnings in China. This highlights the growing popularity of IMAX experiences among Chinese audiences, who are increasingly seeking out high-quality, immersive viewing experiences.
New releases making waves
Opening in second place was the Gu Changwei-directed light drama The Hedgehog. This film tells a touching story of friendship between a rebellious, stuttering teenager and his mentally-handicapped uncle. The movie stars the ever-popular Ge You and Karry Wang, a member of the TFBoys boy band. The Hedgehog earned RMB74.4 million ($105 million) over the weekend.
Close behind was another new release, the Chinese crime drama Untouchable, directed by Wang Daqing and starring Shen Teng, Zhang Yuqi, and Jack Kao. The film earned RMB73.4 million ($10.3 million), showcasing the strong performance of local productions in the Chinese market.
Continuing success for local films
The Chinese crime actioner Go for Broke slipped to fourth place in its second weekend, earning $7.1 million between Friday and Sunday. This tale of revenge against a group of drug dealers has accumulated $33.4 million in ten days of release, demonstrating the enduring appeal of action-packed narratives among Chinese audiences.
In its second weekend, the Japanese animation Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Pentagram added $4.8 million to its total, bringing its ten-day cumulative earnings to $29.2 million. This highlights the cross-cultural appeal of Japanese anime in China, where it continues to attract a dedicated fanbase.
Newcomers and overall box office performance
Thai comedy-drama How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies opened outside the top five, with a three-day score estimated at $4.4 million. Despite not breaking into the top tier, the film’s performance indicates a growing interest in diverse international content among Chinese viewers.
According to local data sources, the nationwide box office total for the weekend was $70.8 million. This brings the year-to-date total to $4.62 billion, which is more than 21% below the equivalent figure in 2023. This decline underscores the challenges faced by the global film industry in the wake of the pandemic, as it continues to recover and adapt to new viewing habits and market dynamics.
Reflecting on the cinematic landscape
As a cinema enthusiast, it’s fascinating to observe the shifting dynamics of the global box office. The success of Alien: Romulus in China not only underscores the enduring appeal of the Alien franchise but also highlights the importance of international markets for Hollywood productions. The strong performance of local films like The Hedgehog and Untouchable further emphasizes the diverse tastes of Chinese audiences, who are increasingly seeking out a variety of genres and narratives.
For those interested in exploring these films further, you can watch the trailers for The Hedgehog and Untouchable.
the Chinese box office continues to be a crucial battleground for both Hollywood and local productions. As filmmakers and studios navigate this complex landscape, it will be interesting to see how they adapt their strategies to cater to the evolving preferences of global audiences.