Jonathan Papish |

How Many Import Slots Does Each Studio Get?

Mar 15, 2017 / Infographics /

Many casual observers of the Chinese film industry and even some working within it believe quota spots are given out evenly amongst Hollywood studios, yet data shows that a studio’s output in China can vary widely from year-to-year. Read More

China Box Office: Dog Bites Wolverine

Mar 13, 2017 / Box Office /

A Dog’s Purpose became the first Hollywood import since last year’s breakout, Zootopia to improve upon its opening weekend earnings the second time around. Boosted by strong word-of-mouth, it's Chinese Box Office will surpass its North American total ($61.8 million), making it the third Hollywood film in the past month, following xXx: The Return of Xander Cage and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter to claim such a distinction. Read More

On Screen China: ‘Genius’ and ‘Final Fantasy’ Pose No Threat to Reigning Blockbusters

Mar 9, 2017 / Box Office /

Eight new releases — six domestic and two imported “buy-out” films — feebly enter Chinese cinemas this weekend, with only 'Genius,' starring Jude Law as eccentric author Thomas Wolfe, and 'Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV' securing enough showtimes to make their limited presence felt at the box office. Read More

R-Rated Films In China

Mar 8, 2017 / Infographics /

R-rated Hollywood films have a long history in China, dating to 1995, when True Lies entered the country as the second-ever revenue-sharing import. Surprisingly, most R-rated films released there in the 22 years since have managed to squeak past the censors intact: some 21 of the 36 films on this list were shown to Chinese audiences uncensored. Read More

China Box Office: Eight Is Hollywood’s Lucky Number

Mar 6, 2017 / Box Office /

Eight Hollywood imports occupied the top eight spots at this weekend’s Chinese box office, a first for a notoriously protective movie industry that recently adopted further measures to ensure that domestic films receive two-thirds of a cinema’s annual screening allotment. Read More

Foreign Films in China: How Does It Work?

Mar 2, 2017 / Chinasplaining /

If you’re a non-Chinese film producer (a foreign film producer from the Chinese perspective), and you hope to exhibit in China and add its robust market to your revenue picture, there are basically two different ways for that to happen. Read More

Big In China: Movies That Earn More RMB Than US$

Mar 1, 2017 / Infographics /

Twenty films have now found greater success in the world’s second largest film market than at home in the US. Read More

China Box Office: Evil Takes Up Residence, Sets New Precedent

Feb 28, 2017 / Box Office /

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, the sixth and now perhaps no longer “final” — installment in Screen Gems’ action-horror series, exploded in the world’s second largest film market this weekend, grossing a staggering RMB 636.9 million ($92.7 million). Read More

Berlin: Production Seminar Brings Together Euro-seekers, Chinese Experts

Feb 24, 2017 / News /

The annual Berlin International Film Festival, also known as the Berlinale has historically been an important Western platform for Chinese films. For the past few years at the festival, a Berlin-based association, Bridging the Dragon and the European Film Market have sponsored events designed to further the cause of European films and co-productions that can Read More

On Screen China: Gamer’s Delight — ‘Resident Evil’ vs. ‘Assassin’s Creed’

Feb 23, 2017 / Box Office /

“Has the Chinese market become a dumping ground for Hollywood’s trash?” wondered a recent Beijing Daily headline, a question both apt and timely. Last summer’s computer game fantasy adaptation, Warcraft, produced by Dalian Wanda-owned Legendary Pictures, with financing from heavyweights China Film Group, Tencent, and Huayi Brothers, skyrocketed to $220 million to become China’s third highest-grossing Read More

Jonathan Papish