All of this comes as the Chinese box office is booming, with domestic films driving the largest percentage of revenues. By April 13th, that total gross had already climbed to an astronomical $3.48 billion (RMB 25 billion). The Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 mostly led the market, pushing this amazing number. At the time of this writing, this film has made up more than 60% of the overall gross. It reached an unprecedented high of $2.11 billion (RMB 15.2 billion) in one-ranging market.
Mumu was going for the extraordinary, and accomplished that feat by exceeding $14.6 million (RMB 105 million) by Sunday. This success pretty much cements its status as a stalwart in the current box office banana-republic landscape. At the same time, We Girls shocked the local industry by becoming the first Chinese-language film to top the weekend chart from April 11-13. It went on to be the first local film to cross RMB 100 million ($13.6 million) of any of the local post-CNY releases. This recent accomplishment underscores the comeback of homegrown cinema.
Upcoming Releases Stir Anticipation
As the Chinese film industry gears up for major releases, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is set to open on April 18. In addition to featuring beloved characters, this major cinematic production celebrates a big anniversary. It’s claimed to be the biggest Chinese film ever filmed in France, with an extraordinary number of days of shooting and a huge crew headcount.
Thunderbolts is currently scheduled for release on April 30. It will make its United States premiere on May 2. All three successively hitting theaters in China is bound to pump up the country’s box office performance. They do a great job reaching local and global audiences.
Recent Performances Highlight Domestic Strength
Those recent numbers serve to highlight how well American films are doing commercially. Fox Hunt, which released on April 4, has already grossed $6.3 million (RMB 45.7 million). As one would expect, local films have been doing spectacularly at the Chinese box office. This trend is a positive indication that audiences are continuing to support locally-produced content.
Movie-going is back and domestic films are booming. It is worth emphasizing that the We Girls and Mumu’s revenues combined still account for only a tiny percentage of Ne Zha 2’s historic success. Ne Zha 2 has continued that record-breaking success. It creates a high-water mark for future releases to aim for and shows the promise of continued innovation and expansion in the industry.
A Testimony to Film’s Impact
As Rebecca Leffler, the resilience and centrality of women behind the camera is felt through important milestones in filmmaking, which are reflected in the work at hand.
“First times are always important and they stay with us for the rest of our lives.” – Rebecca Leffler
Her words ring truer than ever today as filmmakers and audiences all over the world continue to celebrate this creative renaissance in the world of cinema.