Jonathan Papish |

On Screen China: A Chinese ‘Ghost’ Story

Apr 6, 2017 / Box Office /

Weying’s participation won’t boost 'Ghost'’s Chinese box office even close to the heights achieved by 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage,' nor will it push it into the red for Paramount; however, an opening weekend near RMB 200 million ($~30 million) and a final gross in the RMB 350-400 million range ($~55 million) will represent another victory for Weying and should get other studios outside of Paramount lining up to cooperate with the company. Read More

China Box Office: ‘Kong’ Sees That Your Grave Is Swept Clean

Apr 5, 2017 / Box Office /

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

How Important Is China To Hollywood’s Bottom Line?

Apr 5, 2017 / Infographics /

China accounted for $500 million or just 7.7 percent of the $6.5 billion worldwide net revenue from the thirty-two Hollywood films it allowed into the country. By and large, Hollywood films made less that 5% of their worldwide revenue from the Chinese market, indicating that Hollywood's headlong push into China remains primarily about getting early access to a market that still exists in the realm of possibility. Read More

China Box Office: ‘Kong’ Still Rules Jungle

Apr 3, 2017 / Box Office /

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

Holiday Box Office in China – Tomb Sweeping Festival

Mar 28, 2017 / Infographics /

The three-day Tomb Sweeping Festival holiday typically sees a significant boost in moviegoing attendance, but it has historically lagged behind other three-day holidays including Chinese New Year, Labor Day at the beginning of May, and the Dragon Boat Festival in June. Read More

China Box Office: ‘Kong’-dom Come

Mar 27, 2017 / Box Office /

'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

On Screen China: ‘Kong’ Will Be King

Mar 23, 2017 / Box Office /

After Legendary Pictures’ 'The Great Wall' failed to ignite the box office, the Wanda-owned production company returns to China with its only release of 2017, 'Kong: Skull Island,' another monster movie seemingly tailor-made for Chinese audiences. Read More

How Much Have The Hollywood Studios Earned In China?

Mar 21, 2017 / Infographics /

Disney easily leads all Hollywood studios in China largely thanks to the success of its Marvel Cinematic Universe. Read More

China Box Office: First Place For ‘Beauty’ Still Less Than Best

Mar 19, 2017 / Box Office /

With typical press-release hype, the studio has trumpeted Beauty and the Beast’s China debut as the “biggest ever Disney Live Action opening weekend of all-time,” but that would seem to forget that last April, The Jungle Book opened to $50.3 million in China, nearly $10 million more. So, make that "second-biggest ever." Read More

On Screen China: ‘Beauty’ Looks Like a Beast

Mar 15, 2017 / Box Office /

The official release announcement for Beauty and the Beast came way back on January 24, and the rare two-month interlude has given Disney ample time to unleash a local promotional blitz aimed at young Chinese unfamiliar with the original animation. Read More

Jonathan Papish