“Only the River Flows,” a pitch-black crime noir from auteur Wei Shujun, comfortably topped the mainland China box office on a quietish weekend.
The film, ostensibly a murder mystery, but one concerned more with atmosphere than linear plotting, earned $12.6 million (RMB90.8 million) in its opening three days, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway, or close to a third of the market.
The film had its premiere in Cannes where Variety gave it a rave review, calling it an “inventive riff on Asian-noir” and making comparisons with films by Park Chan-wook and Diao Yinan.
“Only the River Flows” has since played at a succession of festivals ever since, including New Zealand, BFI London, Vancouver, Adelaide and last week’s Pingyao event in China.
Falling to second place at the box office after three weeks on top was Zhang Yimou’s “Under the Light,” which earned $6.9 million for a four-weekend cumulative of $176 million.
The film, ostensibly a murder mystery, but one concerned more with atmosphere than linear plotting, earned $12.6 million (RMB90.8 million) in its opening three days, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway, or close to a third of the market.
The film had its premiere in Cannes where Variety gave it a rave review, calling it an “inventive riff on Asian-noir” and making comparisons with films by Park Chan-wook and Diao Yinan.
“Only the River Flows” has since played at a succession of festivals ever since, including New Zealand, BFI London, Vancouver, Adelaide and last week’s Pingyao event in China.
Falling to second place at the box office after three weeks on top was Zhang Yimou’s “Under the Light,” which earned $6.9 million for a four-weekend cumulative of $176 million.
- 10/23/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
A dearth of new release films allowed Zhang Yimou’s “Under the Light” to retain a comfortable lead at the China box office over the weekend, in its third week of release.
The contemporary crime drama film earned $13.5 million (RMB97.2 million) between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. Since releasing on Sept. 28, it has accumulated gross revenues of $163 million (RMB1.17 billion).
Zhang will be feted with a lifetime achievement award in Japan next week, where the Tokyo International Film Festival will play his February record breaker “Full River Red,” but not “Under the Light.”
“The Volunteers: To the War,” a 1950s-set propaganda film directed by Chen Kaige, earned $9.6 million (RMB69.2 million) and rose from third to second place. It now has a cumulative of $93.2 million. Chinese comedy franchise film “The Ex-Files 4: Marriage Plan” took $8.8 million in its third week of release, advancing its cumulative to $123 million.
The contemporary crime drama film earned $13.5 million (RMB97.2 million) between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. Since releasing on Sept. 28, it has accumulated gross revenues of $163 million (RMB1.17 billion).
Zhang will be feted with a lifetime achievement award in Japan next week, where the Tokyo International Film Festival will play his February record breaker “Full River Red,” but not “Under the Light.”
“The Volunteers: To the War,” a 1950s-set propaganda film directed by Chen Kaige, earned $9.6 million (RMB69.2 million) and rose from third to second place. It now has a cumulative of $93.2 million. Chinese comedy franchise film “The Ex-Files 4: Marriage Plan” took $8.8 million in its third week of release, advancing its cumulative to $123 million.
- 10/16/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Zhang Yimou-directed contemporary drama film “Under the Light” retained its top spot at the mainland China box office for a second weekend, but with numbers that dropped steeply, as macro-economic weakening led to a Golden Week of across the board disappointment.
Financial media Monday reported that consumers travelled less and spent less on leisure than had been forecast, likely reflecting general economic belt tightening, high unemployment and property sector worries.
Before the holidays, cinema ticketing firm Maoyan had forecast that the first three days would throw up box office of RMB1.5 billion (208 million) and that “Under the Light” alone would reach RMB2 billion ($278 million) by the end of the eight-day holiday season (Sept. 29-Oct. 6). Those estimates proved to be highly over-optimistic.
The company now reports that the eight-day total box office amounted to Rmb 2.734 billion from ticket sales of 65.1 million.
The positive spin is that box office was...
Financial media Monday reported that consumers travelled less and spent less on leisure than had been forecast, likely reflecting general economic belt tightening, high unemployment and property sector worries.
Before the holidays, cinema ticketing firm Maoyan had forecast that the first three days would throw up box office of RMB1.5 billion (208 million) and that “Under the Light” alone would reach RMB2 billion ($278 million) by the end of the eight-day holiday season (Sept. 29-Oct. 6). Those estimates proved to be highly over-optimistic.
The company now reports that the eight-day total box office amounted to Rmb 2.734 billion from ticket sales of 65.1 million.
The positive spin is that box office was...
- 10/9/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Disney sci-fi epic “The Creator” and Lionsgate U.K.’s horror franchise entry “Saw X” debuted atop the U.K. and Ireland box office — and the race was almost too close to call.
“Saw X” won the three-day total with £1.92 million ($2.31 million), while “The Creator” was just behind with £1.89 million ($2.27 million). However, including previews, “The Creator” grossed £2.2 million, according to numbers released by Comscore.
In third place, in its third weekend, Disney’s “A Haunting in Venice” collected £1 million for a total of £6.7 million. In its fourth weekend, in fourth position, Warner Bros.’ “The Nun II” scared up £418,693 for a total of £5.8 million. And in fifth place, in its fifth weekend, Sony’s “The Equalizer 3” shot its way to £323,247 for a total of £7.8 million.
There were two more debuts in the top 10. A24’s remastered release of Jonathan Demme’s iconic 1984 Talking Heads documentary “Stop Making Sense” debuted in...
“Saw X” won the three-day total with £1.92 million ($2.31 million), while “The Creator” was just behind with £1.89 million ($2.27 million). However, including previews, “The Creator” grossed £2.2 million, according to numbers released by Comscore.
In third place, in its third weekend, Disney’s “A Haunting in Venice” collected £1 million for a total of £6.7 million. In its fourth weekend, in fourth position, Warner Bros.’ “The Nun II” scared up £418,693 for a total of £5.8 million. And in fifth place, in its fifth weekend, Sony’s “The Equalizer 3” shot its way to £323,247 for a total of £7.8 million.
There were two more debuts in the top 10. A24’s remastered release of Jonathan Demme’s iconic 1984 Talking Heads documentary “Stop Making Sense” debuted in...
- 10/3/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Trinity CineAsia has picked up U.K. and Ireland rights to Chinese hit film “The Ex-Files 4: Marriage Plan.” The film ranked third worldwide at the box office over the latest weekend.
Trinity CineAsia will give it an official release from Oct. 6, but began a campaign of limited previews timed to coincide with the mid-Autumn festival that is celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide.
Presented in China by Huayi Brothers, The Ex-Files showcases contemporary urban love in China with in-depth and subtle observation. Its predecessor film, The Ex-Files 3: The Return of The Exes released in 2017 and grossed more than $300 million worldwide, making it one of the top-grossing romances in the history of Chinese cinema. The new film has earned $53.4 million after four days, according to Comscore.
“The Ex-Files 4” shifts the focus from love affairs to marriage. Best buddies Meng Yun (Han Geng) and Yu Fei (Zheng Kai) discover and stumble their way through marriage.
Trinity CineAsia will give it an official release from Oct. 6, but began a campaign of limited previews timed to coincide with the mid-Autumn festival that is celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide.
Presented in China by Huayi Brothers, The Ex-Files showcases contemporary urban love in China with in-depth and subtle observation. Its predecessor film, The Ex-Files 3: The Return of The Exes released in 2017 and grossed more than $300 million worldwide, making it one of the top-grossing romances in the history of Chinese cinema. The new film has earned $53.4 million after four days, according to Comscore.
“The Ex-Files 4” shifts the focus from love affairs to marriage. Best buddies Meng Yun (Han Geng) and Yu Fei (Zheng Kai) discover and stumble their way through marriage.
- 10/2/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
It’s turning into the year of Zhang Yimou at China’s box office. The venerable 73-year-old director’s 26th feature, crime drama Under the Light, topped ticket sales during China’s Mid-Autumn Festival holiday over the past four days, opening to $62.6 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway. This comes after Zhang’s previous feature, the historical mystery thriller Full River Red (2023), dominated China’s previous big holiday release window, the Lunar New Year in January, with a whopping $673 million tally — the country’s biggest haul this year and sixth-biggest of all time. Local ticketing app Maoyan currently forecasts Under the Light to earn between $250 million and $300 million before its run is complete, which would put Zhang close to the $1 billion mark for total ticket sales in 2023.
The Mid-Autumn Festival weekend wasn’t without some spirited competition, however. Huayi Brothers Media’s comedy franchise sequel The Ex-Files 4: Marriage Plan...
The Mid-Autumn Festival weekend wasn’t without some spirited competition, however. Huayi Brothers Media’s comedy franchise sequel The Ex-Files 4: Marriage Plan...
- 10/2/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Update: Here we are with a sort of hybrid weekend at the international box office: there were fresh entries from the Hollywood studios, as well as major new titles timed to holiday play in local markets, and a holdover that’s continuing to rack up records.
On the studio side, Paramount/Spin Master’s Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie took top dog status in its expanded rollout. The family title had, last week, released in Australia and New Zealand before adding 43 offshore markets this session for a total $23.1M to date overseas. The global start is $46.1M.
Word of mouth is strong with these pups, who are out in just 53% of the international marketplace to date. On a like-for-like basis including previews, the overseas opening result is 70% ahead of Paw Patrol: The Movie, giving this Cal Brunker-directed title the best opening for the franchise.
Amid heavy competition, but also with praise from local media,...
On the studio side, Paramount/Spin Master’s Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie took top dog status in its expanded rollout. The family title had, last week, released in Australia and New Zealand before adding 43 offshore markets this session for a total $23.1M to date overseas. The global start is $46.1M.
Word of mouth is strong with these pups, who are out in just 53% of the international marketplace to date. On a like-for-like basis including previews, the overseas opening result is 70% ahead of Paw Patrol: The Movie, giving this Cal Brunker-directed title the best opening for the franchise.
Amid heavy competition, but also with praise from local media,...
- 10/1/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
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