Title: Hollywood Films Struggle as Chinese Box Office Favors Local Productions
Subtitle: “Barbie” Falls Short in Opening Weekend while Chinese Films Dominate
Date: [Insert Date]
By [Author Name]
Hollywood films are facing disappointment at the mainland Chinese box office yet again, as local productions continue to dominate the summer season. This comes as a blow to the global film industry, as China remains the second-largest movie market in the world.
Despite its success in North America and other international territories, “Barbie” could only secure fifth place in China during its opening weekend. The film, which broke box office records overseas, managed to gross $8.2 million over three days, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. However, it was not able to rise above fifth place throughout the entire weekend as locally-produced titles showcased their strength and jostled for the top spots.
While it is somewhat encouraging that “Barbie” saw an increase in daily scores on Sunday due to additional screening sessions, its performance reflects a broader trend. Hollywood films such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Fast X” have struggled to make a strong impact at the mainland Chinese box office this year.
In recent years, Hollywood films faced structural impediments in China, such as import and certification delays. However, this year, with fewer obstacles hindering their release, Western franchises are still witnessing a decline in audience numbers. Instead, Chinese and Japanese movies are receiving stronger support from viewers. As a result, the Chinese box office has managed to recover to within 8% of its pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The top-performing film at the mainland Chinese box office over the latest weekend was “Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms” (the first part of the “Fengshen Trilogy”). The film grossed an impressive $42.1 million, according to Artisan Gateway. Over four days, it earned a total of $53.7 million, showcasing its commercial success.
Even though “Creation of the Gods I” secured the top ranking, its start was not without obstacles. Despite opening a day earlier than most new releases in China, the film placed second on its Friday and experienced a reduction in screen count on subsequent days. As a result, its cumulative total is likely to be a disappointment when considering its ambitious goals.
Directed by Wuershan, known for films such as “Painted Skin” and “Mojin: The Lost Legend,” the “Fengshen Trilogy” aimed to become a mega-scale blending of history, folklore, and mythology from over 3,000 years ago. With production consultant Barrie Osborne (“Lord of the Rings”) and executive producer Bill Kong (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) onboard, the trilogy initially aimed for a budget exceeding $400 million for the three movies.
Following closely behind “Creation of the Gods I” was “Chang An” (aka “Chang An 30,000 Miles”), a Chinese animation that has been in theaters for three weeks. The film grossed $40.6 million over the weekend, accumulating a total of $168 million within 16 days of release. This success cements its place among the top-scoring Chinese animation titles of all time.
In third place was “Wonder Family” (aka “Advancing of ZQ”), a live-action fantasy film about a man who discovers a financial artifact and the enemies who seek to possess it. The film grossed $31.3 million in its opening weekend. Produced by comedy troupe Mahua FunAge, known for hits like “Moon Man,” the film adds to their consistent track record of successful comedy productions.
Slipping to fourth place was “Never Say Never,” a film written and directed by actor Wang Baoqiang (“Lost in Thailand,” “Detective Chinatown”). Despite the drop in rankings, the film still managed to earn a respectable $20.6 million over three days, bringing its cumulative total to $261 million after 18 days in theaters.
Overall, the latest weekend box office in China reached a healthy $168 million, resulting in a year-to-date total of $4.63 billion. Comparing this figure to the same point last year, Artisan Gateway estimates a 70% increase, indicating a strong recovery for the Chinese film market despite ongoing challenges.
As Hollywood films struggle to make an impact in China, the success of local productions highlights the shifting preferences of audiences. With Chinese and Japanese movies taking the lead, the future of the international film industry in China remains unpredictable.