Alien: Romulus dominates Chinese box office, while local films struggle
A surprising success for Hollywood in China
Alien: Romulus has taken the Chinese box office by storm, securing its third consecutive weekend at the top. The film earned an impressive RMB63.4 million ($8.9 million) from Friday to Sunday, bringing its total earnings in China to RMB661 million ($93.1 million). This figure surpasses its North American earnings of $88.8 million, highlighting the film’s unexpected success in the Chinese market. You can watch the trailer for Alien: Romulus for a glimpse of what has captivated audiences.
The rise of Thai comedy in China
In a surprising turn of events, the Thai comedy-drama How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has climbed into the top five in its second week of release. The film earned $3.3 million over the weekend, bringing its cumulative earnings to $10.7 million since its release on August 23. This success underscores the growing appeal of international films in China. Check out the trailer for How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies to see why it’s resonating with Chinese audiences.
Chinese films face a challenging summer
Despite the success of imported films, Chinese-made movies have struggled this summer, leading to a decline in the overall box office performance. The nationwide weekend box office totaled $40.8 million, the lowest figure in ten weeks, bringing the running total to $4.70 billion—a 22% decline compared to the same period last year.
Crime actioner and summer hits
The Chinese crime action film Go for Broke climbed from fourth to second place, earning $6.2 million over the weekend and bringing its 17-day cumulative to $44.9 million. Meanwhile, the summer’s biggest hit, Successor, re-entered the top five with $3.7 million, pushing its total earnings to a staggering $459 million. Watch the trailers for Go for Broke and Successor to see what has captivated Chinese audiences.
Crime drama struggles
The crime drama Untouchable saw a significant drop in its second weekend, earning $3.7 million, down from $10.3 million in its opening weekend. Despite this decline, the film remains a notable entry in the summer lineup. You can watch the trailer for Untouchable to get a sense of its dramatic appeal.
A diverse summer season
Despite the overall decline, the summer season in China featured a highly diverse range of domestic films, covering genres such as comedy, suspense, drama, crime, science fiction, and animation. The top-performing domestic films were Successor and A Place Called Silence, which together grossed RMB1.35 billion. Watch the trailer for A Place Called Silence to explore one of the season’s standout films.
Imported films shine
Imported films also performed exceptionally well, with nine films grossing over RMB100 million this summer. Notably, Alien: Romulus outperformed its North American earnings, highlighting the growing influence of international films in the Chinese market.
Reflecting on the summer season
The summer season in China’s film market saw a 44% decline compared to last year, primarily due to a reduction in the number of blockbuster films. However, the total number of films released and those grossing over RMB100 million reached a near six-year high, indicating a diverse and dynamic market. This summer featured a mix of domestic and imported films, each bringing something unique to the table.
For cinema enthusiasts, this summer has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with unexpected successes and notable declines. As we look forward to the upcoming releases, it’s clear that the Chinese film market remains a vibrant and evolving landscape, full of surprises and opportunities for both domestic and international films.
For more insights and trailers, visit the links provided and immerse yourself in the diverse world of cinema.