Image Source: F5 Magazine
The Chinese box office continues to be ruled by the four strongest titles that launched during the Lunar New Year holidays. However, there has been a slight change in the rankings, with Zhang Yimou’s “Article 20” claiming the top spot for the third weekend in a row.
Solid Performances Dominate Global and Chinese Markets
According to global box office tracking service ComScore, “Article 20,” “Pegasus 2,” “YOLO,” and “Boonie Bears: Time Twist” secured the first, second, fifth, and sixth positions worldwide over the weekend.
Within mainland China, these four films have performed exceptionally well, with their numbers comparable to those of 2023. Even in their third week, they remained far ahead of the top newcomer, “Argylle.”
“Article 20” Secures the Top Spot
Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway reveals that “Article 20” earned a staggering $40.1 million (RMB285 million) between Friday and Sunday, surpassing its competitors. With a cumulative total of $290 million, it has overtaken the popular animation franchise film, “Boonie Bears.”
“Pegasus 2” Enjoys Daily Success
Although “Pegasus 2” has consistently topped the daily box office charts, it has yet to secure a weekend win. Nevertheless, it managed to score $35.6 million over the weekend, resulting in a cumulative total of $432 million.
“YOLO” Slips to Third Place
After leading the charts for the past two weekends, “YOLO” slipped to third place with a weekend score of $25.2 million. However, it remains the highest-grossing film of the holiday period, with a running total of $463 million.
“Boonie Bears: Time Twist” Sets Records
The latest installment in the Fantawild franchise, “Boonie Bears: Time Twist,” has become the series’ most successful film to date. It earned $22.5 million over the weekend, bringing its cumulative total to $257 million.
Other Titles Face Challenges
The dominance of the top four films has had a significant impact on other Lunar New Year releases. Reports suggest that titles such as “The Movie Emperor,” “Viva La Vida,” “Huang Pi – God of Money,” and “Bai Jie” were withdrawn from cinemas early by their distributors. They are expected to be re-released when market conditions are more favorable.
“Argylle” Fails to Make an Impact
“Argylle,” which disappointed at the box office in other territories, faced a similar fate in China. Despite opening as the top new release, it only managed to earn $1.4 million.
With a year-to-date box office aggregate of $1.89 billion, China’s film industry is on track, trailing just 3% behind the equivalent point in 2023, according to Artisan Gateway.
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