‘Octopus With Broken Arms’ Leads Quiet Start to 2025

The Chinese box office opened 2025 with “Octopus with Broken Arms” leading the first weekend, earning $16.1 million (RMB117.5 million), according to data provided by consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. The As One Production release climbed from its second-place debut last week to take the top spot. Directed by Jacky Gan, the crime thriller follows Zheng […]

‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Ends ‘Her Story’ Reign at China Box Office

Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” debuted in pole position at the mainland China box office ending the four-week reign of “Her Story” at the top. Data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway showed “Mufasa: The Lion King” bowing with RMB56.1 million ($8 million). In second place, superstar Donnie Yen‘s Hong Kong action-drama “The Prosecutor” from Maoyan Pictures […]

‘Moana 2’ Opens in Second Place as ‘Her Story’ Retains Top Spot

Maxtime Pictures’ “Her Story,” a comedy-drama film told from a largely female perspective, topped the mainland China box office for the second consecutive weekend. Disney’s “Moana 2” debuted in second place. Data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway showed “Her Story” improving its previous weekend’s showing by earning RMB140.9 million ($19.8 million) between Friday and Sunday. The film now has […]

‘Her Story’ Claims Victory as ‘Gladiator II’ Opens in Fourth Place

“Her Story,” a comedy-drama film told from a largely female perspective, topped the mainland China box office on its first weekend of release. “Gladiator II,” opening the same weekend, placed fourth. Data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway showed “Her Story” earning RMB125 million ($17.5 million) between Friday and Sunday. Including previews, it has a cumulative of $21.7 million, […]

‘To Gather Around’ Dethrones ‘Venom: The Last Dance’

Drama film “To Gather Around” topped the mainland China box office over the weekend and deposed “Venom: The Last Dance.” The film, which also goes by the title “Brave New World,” is directed by Liu Xunximo and stars Deng Chao and Deng Jiajia in a tale of an internet company employee who is caught up in workplace dispute. He joins […]

‘The Untold Story’ Wins Weekend With Two-Day Opening, ‘Red One’ Opens Sixth

Chinese melodrama film “The Untold Story” opened on top of the mainland China box office on its debut weekend, despite playing for only two days. It earned RMB80.8 million ($11.4 million), according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.Adapted from a novel, the film tells the story of an undercover drugs cop, who sometimes goes undercover as a […]

Hong Kong disaster film ‘Cesium Fallout’ leads the box office in China and Hong Kong

It had grossed a total of $16.8m (RMB120m) as of November 7, up from its $12.1 (RMB86.5m) opening weekend, which included previews. The Cantonese-speaking Guangdong province in southern China contributed significantly to the film’s success, accounting for 26.8% of its nationwide cumulative box office. Hong Kong films are generally released in this province in their original […]

Are Young People in China Done With Going to the Movies?

China’s once-booming theatrical box office has begun to crumble. Total movie ticket sales revenue in the country so far this year is down a whopping 22 percent compared to last year. The results represent a dramatic downturn from the strong postCOVID recovery China’s film market achieved in 2023, when revenue surged 83 percent to finish […]