Sakra, a big-budget martial arts fantasy directed and starring Donnie Yen, is heading for a North American theatrical and digital release.
Rights to the film were acquired by WellGo USA which is a major stateside purveyor of Chinese and other Asian titles.
The company has set dates in April for a theatrical outing, shortly followed by a release to digital platforms, according to an emailed conversation with its president and CEO Doris Pfardrescher. Other details of its release and marketing campaign have yet to be finalized.
The film, a mainland China-Hong co-venture, was released in theaters in several territories in Southeast Asia in late January in time for the Lunar New Year holiday peak season. In China, it did not join the New Year scramble for screens and instead was released straight to streaming.
Yen previously described “Sakra” as the most authentic film he had ever made and came at...
Rights to the film were acquired by WellGo USA which is a major stateside purveyor of Chinese and other Asian titles.
The company has set dates in April for a theatrical outing, shortly followed by a release to digital platforms, according to an emailed conversation with its president and CEO Doris Pfardrescher. Other details of its release and marketing campaign have yet to be finalized.
The film, a mainland China-Hong co-venture, was released in theaters in several territories in Southeast Asia in late January in time for the Lunar New Year holiday peak season. In China, it did not join the New Year scramble for screens and instead was released straight to streaming.
Yen previously described “Sakra” as the most authentic film he had ever made and came at...
- 2/14/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Patriotic titles continue to lead the China box office, with historical drama 1921 coming in second.
Patriotic titles continued to dominate the China box office this weekend, with Bona Film Group’s Chinese Doctors opening in pole position with $53.3m in its first three days (July 9-11), according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Produced by Bona Film Group, the film reunites Hong Kong director Andrew Lau with the stars of his 2019 blockbuster The Captain — Zhang Hanyu and Yuan Quan — and also features Jackson Yee, who makes a special appearance in the film. The story follows a group of medical...
Patriotic titles continued to dominate the China box office this weekend, with Bona Film Group’s Chinese Doctors opening in pole position with $53.3m in its first three days (July 9-11), according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Produced by Bona Film Group, the film reunites Hong Kong director Andrew Lau with the stars of his 2019 blockbuster The Captain — Zhang Hanyu and Yuan Quan — and also features Jackson Yee, who makes a special appearance in the film. The story follows a group of medical...
- 7/12/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Major Chinese production company and distributor Bona Film Group has this week established a new headquarters in the southern Chinese capital of Guangzhou. It has also announced three new major projects — all patriotic blockbusters that will likely align closely with the narratives authorities will be seeking to tell in 2021, a year that marks the 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party.
Bona president Yu Dong said he hopes to help the greater bay area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau become the third key cultural and creative hub for the Chinese film industry after Beijing and Shanghai.
“Bona is willing to work together with all film professionals in Guangdong hand in hand to build a key hub for Chinese cinema,” Yu said, according to video footage of a press conference held in Guangzhou.
The move was announced Monday, a day before China’s legislative body approved a controversial new national...
Bona president Yu Dong said he hopes to help the greater bay area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau become the third key cultural and creative hub for the Chinese film industry after Beijing and Shanghai.
“Bona is willing to work together with all film professionals in Guangdong hand in hand to build a key hub for Chinese cinema,” Yu said, according to video footage of a press conference held in Guangzhou.
The move was announced Monday, a day before China’s legislative body approved a controversial new national...
- 5/29/2020
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
After two battles with Chinese censors, edgy Chinese youth drama “Better Days” came out on top this weekend as the highest-grossing film in the world with a $81.5 million three-day debut, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Globally, “Better Days” bested the worldwide haul of Disney’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” by a few million dollars and Warner Bros.’ “Joker” by about $20 million, according to Comscore.
In China, “Better Days” obliterated all other titles, earning 10 times more than “Maleficent,” its closest competitor, which grossed $8.6 million this past weekend. In just three days, “Better Days” has not just scored double the total China gross of the Angelina Jolie-starring title, but also out-earned the Disney flick’s $65 million North American haul so far.
“Better Days” was helped by the fact that two of the biggest contenders set to debut alongside it had their Friday openings canceled. Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood...
Globally, “Better Days” bested the worldwide haul of Disney’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” by a few million dollars and Warner Bros.’ “Joker” by about $20 million, according to Comscore.
In China, “Better Days” obliterated all other titles, earning 10 times more than “Maleficent,” its closest competitor, which grossed $8.6 million this past weekend. In just three days, “Better Days” has not just scored double the total China gross of the Angelina Jolie-starring title, but also out-earned the Disney flick’s $65 million North American haul so far.
“Better Days” was helped by the fact that two of the biggest contenders set to debut alongside it had their Friday openings canceled. Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood...
- 10/28/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
China Censorship Casualty ‘Better Days’ Finally Gets Local Release Date; Well Go Working On U.S. Bow
Exclusive: Another casualty of China’s crackdown on potentially sensitive local films this past summer has been given a lifeline. Derek Tsang’s Better Days will release this Friday in the Middle Kingdom after being okayed just this week. Well Go USA has the movie domestically and was forced to postpone the release this summer when Better Days was shelved by the Chinese authorities. Well Go says it is now finalizing plans for a U.S. date, but nothing is confirmed as yet.
The youth drama, which was also previously pulled from the Berlin Film Festival, focuses on issues of suicide, bullying and sexual abuse. A synopsis calls it a “melodramatic thriller” that “paints a bleak picture of an oppressive society, in the guise of a gripping fairy-tale love story.”
When it was originally kiboshed, we reported that among the vast number of ministries required to approve its release, there...
The youth drama, which was also previously pulled from the Berlin Film Festival, focuses on issues of suicide, bullying and sexual abuse. A synopsis calls it a “melodramatic thriller” that “paints a bleak picture of an oppressive society, in the guise of a gripping fairy-tale love story.”
When it was originally kiboshed, we reported that among the vast number of ministries required to approve its release, there...
- 10/22/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The first Hollywood blockbusters to hit China after the country’s big National Day holiday have, as expected, swept away holdover patriotic titles that had previously ruled the box office. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” edged out another new release, “Gemini Man,” to lead the pack with a $22.5 million opening weekend.
While Disney’s “Maleficent” arrived in China day-and-date with the U.S., the Ang Lee-directed “Gemini Man” hit theaters stateside a week before on Oct. 11. It grossed $21 million in its mainland opening, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Chinese user reviews for “Maleficent” were mixed, giving the film a 9.1 and 8.8 rating out of 10 on the Maoyan and Taopiaopiao ticketing platforms, respectively, but just 6.2 on the more discerning Douban site. Opinions of “Gemini Man” were less polarized, with users according it an 8.0, an 8.1 and a 7.1 score on the three platforms.
On Maoyan, most “Maleficent” commenters expressed admiration for Angelina Jolie...
While Disney’s “Maleficent” arrived in China day-and-date with the U.S., the Ang Lee-directed “Gemini Man” hit theaters stateside a week before on Oct. 11. It grossed $21 million in its mainland opening, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Chinese user reviews for “Maleficent” were mixed, giving the film a 9.1 and 8.8 rating out of 10 on the Maoyan and Taopiaopiao ticketing platforms, respectively, but just 6.2 on the more discerning Douban site. Opinions of “Gemini Man” were less polarized, with users according it an 8.0, an 8.1 and a 7.1 score on the three platforms.
On Maoyan, most “Maleficent” commenters expressed admiration for Angelina Jolie...
- 10/21/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Tense and exciting when it finally gets airborne, Chinese disaster movie “The Captain” is an effective tribute to those who saved the day when the cockpit window of a Sichuan Airlines flight shattered over the Tibetan Plateau on May 14, 2018. Capably assembled by Hong Kong director Andrew Lau (the “Infernal Affairs” trilogy), “The Captain” has gone stratospheric at the Chinese box office, grossing $373 million in its first 18 days. Business has been brisk in foreign territories including Australia and the U.K., all of which bodes well for the film’s North American release on Oct. 18.
One of three features released in time for China’s Oct. 1 National Day celebrations and week-long public holiday, “The Captain” is running a close second to flag-waving omnibus “My Country, My People,” and way ahead of the Mt. Everest-themed adventure “The Climbers.” Though nowhere near as politically patriotic as those films, “The Captain” still finds plenty...
One of three features released in time for China’s Oct. 1 National Day celebrations and week-long public holiday, “The Captain” is running a close second to flag-waving omnibus “My Country, My People,” and way ahead of the Mt. Everest-themed adventure “The Climbers.” Though nowhere near as politically patriotic as those films, “The Captain” still finds plenty...
- 10/18/2019
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Samara Weaving will join Henry Golding in the “G.I. Joe” spinoff, “Snake Eyes.”
Haruka Abe, Ursula Corbero, Iko Uwais and Andrew Koji have also boarded the Paramount, Skydance and AllSpark movie.
“The Captain” director Robert Schwentke is helming and Brian Goldner is producing. Evan Spiliotopoulos, who wrote “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” penned the script.
Snake Eyes is a ninja commando who dresses in all black, hides his face and doesn’t speak. He stands out among the military anti-terrorist group and quickly establishes himself as its most popular member. He also has a special relationship with Scarlett (Weaving), the team’s first female member, and sometimes carries out solo missions with his pet wolf, Timber. His blood brother Storm Shadow is also his archenemy.
The pic, based on the Hasbro toy of the same name, marks the third “G.I. Joe” film Paramount has produced in the last decade,...
Haruka Abe, Ursula Corbero, Iko Uwais and Andrew Koji have also boarded the Paramount, Skydance and AllSpark movie.
“The Captain” director Robert Schwentke is helming and Brian Goldner is producing. Evan Spiliotopoulos, who wrote “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” penned the script.
Snake Eyes is a ninja commando who dresses in all black, hides his face and doesn’t speak. He stands out among the military anti-terrorist group and quickly establishes himself as its most popular member. He also has a special relationship with Scarlett (Weaving), the team’s first female member, and sometimes carries out solo missions with his pet wolf, Timber. His blood brother Storm Shadow is also his archenemy.
The pic, based on the Hasbro toy of the same name, marks the third “G.I. Joe” film Paramount has produced in the last decade,...
- 10/14/2019
- by Justin Kroll
- Variety Film + TV
Patriotic thriller “The Captain” held on to the top spot at the Chinese box office for the second weekend, again leading from propaganda omnibus “My People, My Country.”
“The Captain,” also known as “The Chinese Pilot” earned $34.9 million according to consultancy Artisan Gateway, for a two-week cumulative of $343 million. The cumulative for “People,” which had a huge opening day on Sept. 30, is higher still, at $362 million.
Both films were released in time for the National Day celebrations and the week-long public holiday in China. So large a large drop in individual and cumulative weekend scores was to be expected after the return to work. But per screening average grosses, at over $350 a time, remained very solid.
One of the few newcomers to make it into the chart was Hong Kong-made crime thriller “A Witness Out of the Blue,” starring the ever-popular Louis Koo. It made $14.8 million in just two days after a Saturday release.
“The Captain,” also known as “The Chinese Pilot” earned $34.9 million according to consultancy Artisan Gateway, for a two-week cumulative of $343 million. The cumulative for “People,” which had a huge opening day on Sept. 30, is higher still, at $362 million.
Both films were released in time for the National Day celebrations and the week-long public holiday in China. So large a large drop in individual and cumulative weekend scores was to be expected after the return to work. But per screening average grosses, at over $350 a time, remained very solid.
One of the few newcomers to make it into the chart was Hong Kong-made crime thriller “A Witness Out of the Blue,” starring the ever-popular Louis Koo. It made $14.8 million in just two days after a Saturday release.
- 10/14/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Joker” is showing impressive traction internationally with a second weekend of $123.7 million on 24,149 screens in 79 markets — a holdover decline of just 29%.
Joaquin Phoenix’s psychological thriller has totaled $351.2 million outside North America after only 12 days in release. And with $192 million in domestic grosses, “Joker” has now topped $543 million worldwide for Warner Bros.
The film declined by only 24% in Europe and by 26% in Latin America. The U.K. has been top market and saw a 22% decline to $12 million, representing a 62% share of the country’s top five films. The British total has hit $36.9 million.
Mexico declined 37% to $8.6 million at 3,620 screens for a 68% share of the top five and a $28.9. million two-week total. South Korea saw a 53% slide to $6.6 million at 1,312 screens for a 50% share and a two-week take of $28 million.
“Joker” scored a $10.3 million opening in France for a 71% share. It was the biggest opening for a Warner Bros. film in...
Joaquin Phoenix’s psychological thriller has totaled $351.2 million outside North America after only 12 days in release. And with $192 million in domestic grosses, “Joker” has now topped $543 million worldwide for Warner Bros.
The film declined by only 24% in Europe and by 26% in Latin America. The U.K. has been top market and saw a 22% decline to $12 million, representing a 62% share of the country’s top five films. The British total has hit $36.9 million.
Mexico declined 37% to $8.6 million at 3,620 screens for a 68% share of the top five and a $28.9. million two-week total. South Korea saw a 53% slide to $6.6 million at 1,312 screens for a 50% share and a two-week take of $28 million.
“Joker” scored a $10.3 million opening in France for a 71% share. It was the biggest opening for a Warner Bros. film in...
- 10/13/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
‘Joker’ (Photo credit: Warner Bros)
Is Todd Phillips’ Joker an enthralling masterpiece or a disturbing and deeply derivative incitement to commit violence? The comic book-inspired movie has polarised the critics but audiences in Australia and around the world have voted with their feet.
The action adventure starring Joaquin Phoenix as the twisted, disenfranchised clown-for-hire and stand-up comic in 1980s Gotham smashed industry opening records for October in Oz, the Us and internationally last weekend.
Meanwhile Rachel Griffiths’ Ride Like a Girl now ranks as the top-grossing Australian release of the year after racing through its second weekend. Ticket sales surged thanks to the school holidays and the new releases including Indian import War and Chinese dramas My People, My Country and The Captain.
The top 20 titles harvested $21.9 million from Thursday through Sunday, 80 per cent up on the previous weekend, according to Numero.
Joker punched up $9.7 million and $11.9 million including the Monday Labor Day holiday.
Is Todd Phillips’ Joker an enthralling masterpiece or a disturbing and deeply derivative incitement to commit violence? The comic book-inspired movie has polarised the critics but audiences in Australia and around the world have voted with their feet.
The action adventure starring Joaquin Phoenix as the twisted, disenfranchised clown-for-hire and stand-up comic in 1980s Gotham smashed industry opening records for October in Oz, the Us and internationally last weekend.
Meanwhile Rachel Griffiths’ Ride Like a Girl now ranks as the top-grossing Australian release of the year after racing through its second weekend. Ticket sales surged thanks to the school holidays and the new releases including Indian import War and Chinese dramas My People, My Country and The Captain.
The top 20 titles harvested $21.9 million from Thursday through Sunday, 80 per cent up on the previous weekend, according to Numero.
Joker punched up $9.7 million and $11.9 million including the Monday Labor Day holiday.
- 10/7/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Two Chinese films – both patriotic, but of very different genres – dominated the weekend box office in China. Both scored more than $100 million and extended their already stunning midweek tallies.
According to data from Artisan Gateway, Bona Film Group’s “The Captain” (aka “The Chinese Pilot”) earned $103 million, narrowly ahead of the state-backed omnibus film “My People, My Country,” which enjoyed a Friday-Sunday score of $102 million.
Both titles had been released on Monday, the day before the Oct. 1 National Day and had built up a head of steam, ahead of Shanghai Film Group’s “The Climbers,” a starry, nationalist tale about climbing Mt. Everest.
After six days on release, “People” had amassed $290 million, while “The Captain” had accumulated $253 million. Performing less well than anticipated, “The Climbers” ended the long holiday week with $108 million, including $31.3 million over the weekend.
“Abominable,” a Chinese-u.S. co-production between Pearl Studios and Universal, and boasting patriotic Chinese tones of its own,...
According to data from Artisan Gateway, Bona Film Group’s “The Captain” (aka “The Chinese Pilot”) earned $103 million, narrowly ahead of the state-backed omnibus film “My People, My Country,” which enjoyed a Friday-Sunday score of $102 million.
Both titles had been released on Monday, the day before the Oct. 1 National Day and had built up a head of steam, ahead of Shanghai Film Group’s “The Climbers,” a starry, nationalist tale about climbing Mt. Everest.
After six days on release, “People” had amassed $290 million, while “The Captain” had accumulated $253 million. Performing less well than anticipated, “The Climbers” ended the long holiday week with $108 million, including $31.3 million over the weekend.
“Abominable,” a Chinese-u.S. co-production between Pearl Studios and Universal, and boasting patriotic Chinese tones of its own,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Abominable climbs to $76m worldwide, Ad Astra crosses $100m worldwide.
October 7 Update: Joker has demolished October opening weekend records as Warner Bros executives on Monday confirmed the tentpole debuted on $248.2m worldwide and $152.2m international, both of which beat the previous marks set by Venom a year ago.
Warner Bros Pictures International
Update: Led by a stunning $16.1m (Won 19.4bn) debut in South Korea and $15.4m (£12.6m) in the UK where the film claimed 76% market share of the top five releases, Joker ranked as the number one Hollywood release in all 73 territories, and established the biggest Warner Bros debut in 2019 in 55 territories,...
October 7 Update: Joker has demolished October opening weekend records as Warner Bros executives on Monday confirmed the tentpole debuted on $248.2m worldwide and $152.2m international, both of which beat the previous marks set by Venom a year ago.
Warner Bros Pictures International
Update: Led by a stunning $16.1m (Won 19.4bn) debut in South Korea and $15.4m (£12.6m) in the UK where the film claimed 76% market share of the top five releases, Joker ranked as the number one Hollywood release in all 73 territories, and established the biggest Warner Bros debut in 2019 in 55 territories,...
- 10/7/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Joaquin Phoenix showed plenty of worldwide drawing power as “Joker” dominated international moviegoing with $140.5 million from 22,552 screens in 73 markets for Warner Bros.
Along with the North American results, the worldwide opening weekend totaled an impressive $234 million, outperforming expectations. Directed by Todd Phillips, “Joker” has been the subject of scrutiny in weeks leading up to its release over fears that the disturbing origin story of Batman’s infamous foe could inspire violence — a scenario had not materialized as of Sunday.
“Joker” generated the biggest 2019 opening for a Warner Bros. title in 39 markets including UK, Russia, Italy, Spain, Poland, UAE, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. It was also the biggest October opening weekend in 21 markets including Spain, UAE, Brazil, Mexico and Australia and the best opening weekend in half a dozen markets including Holland, Italy, Japan, Korea and Chile.
“Joker” also became Warner’s top opening weekend for the European...
Along with the North American results, the worldwide opening weekend totaled an impressive $234 million, outperforming expectations. Directed by Todd Phillips, “Joker” has been the subject of scrutiny in weeks leading up to its release over fears that the disturbing origin story of Batman’s infamous foe could inspire violence — a scenario had not materialized as of Sunday.
“Joker” generated the biggest 2019 opening for a Warner Bros. title in 39 markets including UK, Russia, Italy, Spain, Poland, UAE, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. It was also the biggest October opening weekend in 21 markets including Spain, UAE, Brazil, Mexico and Australia and the best opening weekend in half a dozen markets including Holland, Italy, Japan, Korea and Chile.
“Joker” also became Warner’s top opening weekend for the European...
- 10/6/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Abominable climbs to $76m worldwide, Ad Astra crosses $100m worldwide.
Joker rules the world after a stunning $234m estimated worldwide debut that saw the Warner Bros film earn $140.5m from 73 international markets and record the highest October launch in North America on $93.5m.
Fox / New Regency’s sci-fi Ad Astra starring Brad Pitt crossed $100m worldwide, and Abominable from DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studios has reached an early $76.3m at the global box office.
Warner Bros Pictures International
Todd Phillips’ supervillain origins story Joker starring Oscar contender Joaquin Phoenix opened number one everywhere and ranks as the number one film...
Joker rules the world after a stunning $234m estimated worldwide debut that saw the Warner Bros film earn $140.5m from 73 international markets and record the highest October launch in North America on $93.5m.
Fox / New Regency’s sci-fi Ad Astra starring Brad Pitt crossed $100m worldwide, and Abominable from DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studios has reached an early $76.3m at the global box office.
Warner Bros Pictures International
Todd Phillips’ supervillain origins story Joker starring Oscar contender Joaquin Phoenix opened number one everywhere and ranks as the number one film...
- 10/6/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Chinese animation “Nezha” continues its meteoric ascent to become one of China’s top-performing titles of all time, leading the weekend box office for the third week in a row thanks to a $66.5 million haul — still more than double that of its closest competitor, despite already having been in theaters for 18 days.
Its success has been boosted by a serious lack of other contenders: Every film below the top four grossers earned less than $700,000 this weekend, not even 1% of “Nezha’s” takings. The uneven performance highlights the struggles facing China’s box office this summer, as the pipeline of popular local titles dries up because of regulatory changes and a highly sensitive political anniversary coming up in October that has sent censors into overdrive.
With a total gross so far of $503 million (RMB3.55 billion), “Nezha” is already the fifth-highest-grossing title in Chinese film history, falling just behind last year’s “Operation Red Sea,...
Its success has been boosted by a serious lack of other contenders: Every film below the top four grossers earned less than $700,000 this weekend, not even 1% of “Nezha’s” takings. The uneven performance highlights the struggles facing China’s box office this summer, as the pipeline of popular local titles dries up because of regulatory changes and a highly sensitive political anniversary coming up in October that has sent censors into overdrive.
With a total gross so far of $503 million (RMB3.55 billion), “Nezha” is already the fifth-highest-grossing title in Chinese film history, falling just behind last year’s “Operation Red Sea,...
- 8/12/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese animation “Nezha” has proven itself China’s surprise hit of the summer, and is on track outstrip “Avengers: Endgame” to become China’s third highest-ever grossing film.
It continued to smash records as the most successful animated title in Chinese film history – surpassing Disney’s 2016 “Zootopia” – during its second weekend, leading the box office with a staggering $127 million, according to figures from consultancy Artisan Gateway. It was also the second highest-grossing film in the world, trailing only “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw.”
As of early Monday evening, the dark horse 3-D title from an unknown new director who goes by the name of Jiaozi, or “dumpling,” has already grossed $348 million (RMB2.45 billion), cracking the top 10 of the mainland’s highest-grossing films of all time, just behind 2017’s “The Fate of the Furious” (in eighth place with RMB2.67 billion) and last summer’s “Hello Mr. Billionaire” (in ninth with...
It continued to smash records as the most successful animated title in Chinese film history – surpassing Disney’s 2016 “Zootopia” – during its second weekend, leading the box office with a staggering $127 million, according to figures from consultancy Artisan Gateway. It was also the second highest-grossing film in the world, trailing only “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw.”
As of early Monday evening, the dark horse 3-D title from an unknown new director who goes by the name of Jiaozi, or “dumpling,” has already grossed $348 million (RMB2.45 billion), cracking the top 10 of the mainland’s highest-grossing films of all time, just behind 2017’s “The Fate of the Furious” (in eighth place with RMB2.67 billion) and last summer’s “Hello Mr. Billionaire” (in ninth with...
- 8/5/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Distributors and producers frequently bemoan the difficulty of understanding fast-moving audience trends in China. Affecting the outcome is the scale of country and all are affected by word of mouth driven by ubiquitous social media.
For the tech giants encroaching on the film sector, such as Tencent, the response to such uncertainty is to draw on big data for insight and help in making production, distribution and marketing decisions. For more traditional distributors, such as Bona, the problem is how to strike a balance between having a slate wide enough that it stretches across different genres, and one that has enough tentpoles for the Chinese calendar’s four or five main holiday periods.
Box office in January this year dragged along at levels below 2018’s take. But the Chinese New Year holiday in February was highly competitive and produced the biggest B.O. numbers on record. Bona scored strongly with “Pegasus,...
For the tech giants encroaching on the film sector, such as Tencent, the response to such uncertainty is to draw on big data for insight and help in making production, distribution and marketing decisions. For more traditional distributors, such as Bona, the problem is how to strike a balance between having a slate wide enough that it stretches across different genres, and one that has enough tentpoles for the Chinese calendar’s four or five main holiday periods.
Box office in January this year dragged along at levels below 2018’s take. But the Chinese New Year holiday in February was highly competitive and produced the biggest B.O. numbers on record. Bona scored strongly with “Pegasus,...
- 6/12/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
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