The Devotion of Suspect X
Domestic Vs Import Box Office: Appearances Can Deceive
Looking at the box office split between foreign and Chinese films this year, it’s easy to conclude China is a balanced market: imports lead slightly with a 52% market share through April 18. But huge imbalances lie behind those numbers. Read More
China Box Office: ‘Kong’ Sees That Your Grave Is Swept Clean
Three local productions were given wide releases, yet only one – the crime thriller, 'The Devotion of Suspect X' – managed to challenge 'Kong: Skull Island'’s reign atop the box office charts, and even that was short-lived.' Kong' continued its climb to ever new heights on its quest to become the year’s highest-grossing import, and has now earned RMB 964 million ($139.8 million). Read More
Film Review: ‘Suspect X’ An Inelegant Equation
Western audiences may be unsettled by the idea that the unspeakable acts that Shi commits to help his lady neighbor and thus win her affection might deserve compassion. In our culture, this is plain creepy, but in China, where a generation of male only children have been mathematically aced-out and will never have a woman to love because there aren’t enough to go around, the story does strike a certain poignant chord. Read More
China Box Office: ‘Kong’ Still Rules Jungle
For the first time in fifty days, Hollywood imports lost hold of the daily box office crown as local crime thriller The Devotion of Suspect X debuted in first place on Friday. Yet Legendary’s Kong: Skull Island quickly re-established its dominance on Saturday, and looks to enjoy an easy holiday victory when the three-day Qingming or Tomb Sweeping Festival ends on Tuesday. Read More
China Box Office: ‘Kong’-dom Come
'Kong: Skull Island''s RMB 470 million opening weekend made for the second biggest Hollywood opening this year, behind only 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' (RMB 636 million; $92.7 million), and 18% higher than its strong $61 million North American opening weekend—numbers that allow the film’s Chinese funders, Wanda (who own Legendary Pictures) and Tencent to pound their chests. While Kong may appear outwardly to extend Hollywood’s dominance over the Chinese box office, the participation of Wanda and Tencent really make it a victory for the home team as well. Read More