Monster Hunt and Monkey King set China records
By Kevin Ma
Tue, 28 July 2015, 09:30 AM (HKT)
Box Office News
Monster Hunt 捉妖記 and Monkey King: Hero is Back 西遊記之大聖歸來 continued to smash box office records in China over the weekend.
Earning RMB323 million (US$52 million) from approximately 8.72 million admissions between Friday and Sunday, Monster Hunt (pictured) officially broke Lost in Thailand 人再囧途之泰囧 (2012)'s record on Saturday to become the highest grossing local film of all time. The fantasy adventure maintained a screening share of approximately 29.4% over the weekend.
After 11 days in cinemas, the Edko Films Ltd 安樂影片有限公司 release has already made RMB1.37 billion (US$221 million).
Jianbing Man 煎餅俠 remained in second place, earning RMB169 million (US$27.3 million) from approximately 5.13 million admissions between Friday and Sunday. The 2-D superhero spoof has made RMB865 million (US$139 million), making it co-producer Wanda Media Co Ltd 萬達影視傳媒有限公司's highest grossing film.
The comedy is distributed by Wuzhou Film Distribution Co Ltd 五洲电影发行有限公司, a subsidiary of Wanda.
In third place, Monkey King: Hero is Back also set a new record of its own on Saturday, surpassing Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)'s RMB612 million (US$98.6 million) gross to become China's highest grossing animated film. An original spin-off of the Journey to the West mythology, it has made RMB671 million (US$108 million) after 17 days.
The 3-D release had a screening share of approximately 12.1% over the weekend.
Only You 命中注定, Huayi Brothers Media Corporation 華誼兄弟傳媒股份有限公司' and Columbia Pictures' remake of the 1994 American romantic comedy, opened in fourth place. With a screening share of approximately 15.2% over the weekend, the ZHANG Hao 張皓 film – starring TANG Wei 湯唯 and LIAO Fan 廖凡 – earned RMB47.5 million (US$7.64 million) from approximately 1.49 million admissions over three days.
The opening is far below Tang Wei's previous romantic comedy Finding Mr. Right 北京遇上西雅圖 (2013), which earned RMB520 million (US$83.7 million) during its theatrical run. The sequel to that film is currently in production.
Seer Movie 5: Rise of Thunder 赛尔号5 雷神崛起 opened in fifth place, earning RMB40.8 million (US$6.57 million) from approximately 1.2 million admissions.
Last year, Seer the Movie 4 賽爾號大電影4 聖魔之戰 opened with RMB39.6 million (US$6.38 million) over four days. It earned RMB62.31 million (US$10.0 million) during its theatrical run.
With 3.85% of all screenings, Danny PANG 彭發's The Strange House 通靈 六世古宅 earned RMB10.1 million (US$1.62 million) over three days.
Opening on Tuesday, The Imitation Game made RMB18.8 million (US$3.02 million) over its first six days in cinemas. The espionage drama accounted for only 1.93% of all screenings over the weekend.
While July is considered the unofficial blackout period of foreign films that were imported on a revenue-sharing basis, foreign films imported via flat-fee deals are allowed to be released.
John WOO 吳宇森's The Crossing: Part 2 太平輪 彼岸, period drama Lady of the Dynasty 王朝的女人 楊貴妃, Ringo LAM 林嶺東's Wild City 暴走迷城 and Hong Kong romantic comedy Paris Holiday 巴黎假期 open this weekend.