Tiger Mountain storms China box office
By Kevin Ma
Tue, 30 December 2014, 15:50 PM (HKT)
Box Office News
TSUI Hark 徐克's The Taking of Tiger Mountain 智取威虎山3D easily captured the top spot of the China box office.
Accounting for approximately 33% of all screenings nationwide, the 3-D action epic earned RMB199 million (US$32.0 million) from approximately 4.79 million admissions between Friday and Sunday. After six days, the Bona Film Group Co Ltd 博納影業集團有限公司 and August First Film Studio 八一電影制片廠 production has made RMB317 million (US$50.9 million).
Last year, Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon 狄仁杰之神都龍王 – also released in 3-D — earned RMB325 million (US$52.2 million) during the week-long National Day holiday with approximately 30% of all screenings.
Christmas is not an official public holiday in China.
Opening on 24 Dec, GU Changwei 顧長衛's Love on the Cloud 微愛之漸入佳境 proved successful counter-programming to the testosterone-driven Tigers, opening second-placed. With approximately 26.5% of all screenings, the romantic comedy earned RMB75.6 million (US$12.1 million) from approximately 2.22 million admissions between Friday and Sunday. After five days, the Huayi Brothers Media Corporation 華誼兄弟傳媒股份有限公司 production – already by far the highest grossing film in Gu's career – has made RMB142 million (US$22.8 million).
In its second weekend, JIANG Wen 姜文's Gone with the Bullets 一步之遙 earned RMB41.5 million (US$6.67 million) between Friday and Sunday, representing a week-on-week drop of approximately 83.5%. The period comedy, which has grossed RMB463 million (US$74.4 million) after 11 days, accounted for approximately 14.7% of all weekend screenings.
Four other newcomers entered the top ten. On their first three days on release, American animated film The Nut Job made RMB15.5 million (US$2.49 million), Spanish sci-fi thriller The Last Days Los últimos días opened with RMB7.92 million (US$1.27 million) and local horror film Death Trip 還魂之迷失曼谷 made RMB4.09 million (US$657,000). In its first five days, Hong Kong drama Golden Brother 男人唔可以窮 earned RMB7.78 million (US$1.25 million).
In Hong Kong, Hollywood dominated the four-day Christmas holiday weekend, led by Night at the Museum 3.
From 42 locations, the fantasy comedy sequel – released only in 2-D – earned HK$12.4 million (US$1.60 million) between Thursday and Sunday. After two weekends, it has earned HK$34.3 million (US$4.42 million). In 2009, Night at the Museum 2 earned HK$28.19 million (US$3.63 million) during its theatrical run.
Disney's Big Hero 6 moved up to second place, making HK$8.53 million (US$1.10 million) from 42 locations between Thursday and Sunday. Released in 2-D and 3-D, the animated sci-fi has earned HK$20.0 million (US$2.58 million) after two weekends.
Also in its second weekend, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies dropped to third place. Released in IMAX 3-D, 3-D, High Frame Rate 3-D and 2-D, the fantasy sequel made HK$8.15 million (US$1.05 million) between Thursday and Sunday. It has earned HK$24.3 million (US$3.13 million).
Paddington was the top new film over the weekend. From 36 locations, the British fantasy comedy earned HK$5.37 million (US$692,000) on its first four days.
The top Chinese-language film was John WOO 吳宇森's The Crossing 太平輪. Released locally by Edko Films Ltd 安樂影片有限公司, the historical epic earned only HK$1.17 million (US$151,000) from 21 locations over four days, including income from early previews on Christmas Eve.
Six years ago, Red Cliff 赤壁 (2008) opened with HK$10.6 million (US$1.37 million) and earned a total of HK$24.3 million (US$3.13 million) during its theatrical run.
According to Hong Kong's Motion Picture Industry Association Ltd (MPIA) 香港電影協會, total box office between 24 Dec and 26 Dec was HK$34.7 million (US$4.47 million), representing a year-on-year increase of 6.59%. One year ago, Firestorm 風暴, Frozen and The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug led the holiday box office.
Night at the Museum 3 also topped the box office in Taiwan over the weekend. From 21 locations in Taipei, the fantasy comedy earned NT$20.7 million (US$650,000) in its first five days. Five years ago, Night at the Museum 2 opened with NT$19.3 million (US$608,000), earning NT$53.8 million (US$1.69 million) in the capital.
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies dropped to second place, earning NT$9.74 million (US$306,000) between Friday and Sunday. The Peter JACKSON fantasy epic has earned NT$50.7 million (US$1.59 million) in the capital.
With a week-on-week drop of approximately 23%, Stand By Me Doraemon STAND BY ME ドラえもん made NT$1.69 million (US$53,200) between Friday and Sunday. The animated film has earned NT$4.93 million (US$155,000) in Taipei after two weekends.
Opening in ten Taipei locations, Begin Again earned NT$2.6 million (US$81,800) in its first five days.
Local romance drama Endless Nights In Aurora 極光之愛 dropped to eighth place, earning NT$1.33 million (US$41,900) between Friday and Sunday in Taipei. The Sven LEE 李思源 film has made NT$5.02 million (US$158,000) in the capital.
Disney's Big Hero 6 earned NT$1.93 million (US$60,700) in Taipei from early weekend previews. The animated adventure officially opens in Taiwan on 31 Dec.