China officially arrives back at Cannes this year intent on showcasing its hits, while promoting the opportunities for international collaborations the country’s film industry leaders are increasingly keen to explore.
There are more than 60 film companies from the nation involved at the China Film Pavilion — situated at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès and organized by the China Film Co-Production Corporation (Cfcc) under the guidance of the China Film Administration — and visitors can learn all about more than 180 Chinese films.
“We hope to promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign film industries through the China Film Pavilion and help Chinese films go global,” a Cfcc spokesperson says. “Through the pavilion and film as a medium, mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign filmmakers can be deepened to further foster communication and cooperation for mutual development. The China Film Pavilion will continue to explore a broader platform for Chinese and foreign film exchange.
There are more than 60 film companies from the nation involved at the China Film Pavilion — situated at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès and organized by the China Film Co-Production Corporation (Cfcc) under the guidance of the China Film Administration — and visitors can learn all about more than 180 Chinese films.
“We hope to promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign film industries through the China Film Pavilion and help Chinese films go global,” a Cfcc spokesperson says. “Through the pavilion and film as a medium, mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign filmmakers can be deepened to further foster communication and cooperation for mutual development. The China Film Pavilion will continue to explore a broader platform for Chinese and foreign film exchange.
- 5/16/2024
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Censoring Streamers
Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has said that he plans to hold meetings with the Communications Ministry with a view to extending the remit of the country’s Film Censorship Board (Lpf) to video streamers. Currently, the Lpf has jurisdiction over theatrical releases, but not content carried on the internet.
Malaysia has been notable in demanding cuts – sometimes refused by rights holders – to imported and local films, especially where they touch on religion or homosexuality, even tangentially. Hollywood films “Thor” and “Lightyear” were both banned. Last year, local director Amanda Nell Eu denounced the censored cut of her prize-winning film “Tiger Stripes.”
Speaking in parliament, Saifuddin said “the Lpf will not approve the screening of any films that promote LGBTQ, communism, Islamophobia, and those conflicting Islamic beliefs.”
VFX Investment
Japanese broadcaster TBS Holdings has announced “a significant capital investment” in Megalis a Tokyo-based VFX production company...
Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has said that he plans to hold meetings with the Communications Ministry with a view to extending the remit of the country’s Film Censorship Board (Lpf) to video streamers. Currently, the Lpf has jurisdiction over theatrical releases, but not content carried on the internet.
Malaysia has been notable in demanding cuts – sometimes refused by rights holders – to imported and local films, especially where they touch on religion or homosexuality, even tangentially. Hollywood films “Thor” and “Lightyear” were both banned. Last year, local director Amanda Nell Eu denounced the censored cut of her prize-winning film “Tiger Stripes.”
Speaking in parliament, Saifuddin said “the Lpf will not approve the screening of any films that promote LGBTQ, communism, Islamophobia, and those conflicting Islamic beliefs.”
VFX Investment
Japanese broadcaster TBS Holdings has announced “a significant capital investment” in Megalis a Tokyo-based VFX production company...
- 3/22/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar winner Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s formalist arthouse drama Evil Does Not Exist won the best film prize Sunday night at the Asia Film Awards in Hong Kong.
The Japanese film industry had a big night overall at the 17th edition of the awards ceremony, which was hosted this year in Hong Kong’s gleaming new Xiqu Centre, part of the city’s $2.7 billion West Kowloon Cultural District development. Japanese festival favorite Hirokazu Kore-eda won best director for his mystery drama Monster, while the great Koji Yakusho took best actor for Wim Wender’s moving minimalist drama Perfect Days. Hamaguchi’s chief collaborator on Evil Does Not Exist, Eiko Ishibashi, won best music and the Kaiju critical and commercial sensation Godzilla Minus One claimed both best visual effects and best sound.
In many ways, it was Zhang Yimou’s night, however. The venerated Chinese director took the stage twice, once to...
The Japanese film industry had a big night overall at the 17th edition of the awards ceremony, which was hosted this year in Hong Kong’s gleaming new Xiqu Centre, part of the city’s $2.7 billion West Kowloon Cultural District development. Japanese festival favorite Hirokazu Kore-eda won best director for his mystery drama Monster, while the great Koji Yakusho took best actor for Wim Wender’s moving minimalist drama Perfect Days. Hamaguchi’s chief collaborator on Evil Does Not Exist, Eiko Ishibashi, won best music and the Kaiju critical and commercial sensation Godzilla Minus One claimed both best visual effects and best sound.
In many ways, it was Zhang Yimou’s night, however. The venerated Chinese director took the stage twice, once to...
- 3/10/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 44th edition of genre film festival Fantasporto, which runs in Portugal’s second city Porto from March 1-10, has bestowed its best film award on Japanese sci-fi fantasy pic “From the End of the World,” directed by Kaz I Kiriya.
The movie follows 10-year-old Hana, whose dreams transport her across various eras in Japanese history, and have the ability to save humanity.
The jury’s special award went to “The Complex Forms,” Italian director Fabio D’Orta’s debut feature. The sci-fi horror centers on a man who has sold his body so it can be possessed by a creature of unknown nature.
The prize for best direction was nabbed by Spanish filmmaker Gonzalo López-Gallego for horror movie “The Shadow of the Shark” (La Sombra del Tiburon). In the film, a young woman, Alma, is undergoing therapy as she is unable to sleep. With the help of surveillance cameras, she...
The movie follows 10-year-old Hana, whose dreams transport her across various eras in Japanese history, and have the ability to save humanity.
The jury’s special award went to “The Complex Forms,” Italian director Fabio D’Orta’s debut feature. The sci-fi horror centers on a man who has sold his body so it can be possessed by a creature of unknown nature.
The prize for best direction was nabbed by Spanish filmmaker Gonzalo López-Gallego for horror movie “The Shadow of the Shark” (La Sombra del Tiburon). In the film, a young woman, Alma, is undergoing therapy as she is unable to sleep. With the help of surveillance cameras, she...
- 3/9/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2024 Oscars Predictions:
Best Picture
Weekly Commentary: Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic “Oppenheimer,” narrating the saga of the father of the atomic bomb, is poised to sweep the Oscars. Having clinched every major guild and industry accolade – BAFTA, Critics Choice, Golden Globes, DGA, PGA, and SAG – it’s the first...
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2024 Oscars Predictions:
Best Picture
Weekly Commentary: Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic “Oppenheimer,” narrating the saga of the father of the atomic bomb, is poised to sweep the Oscars. Having clinched every major guild and industry accolade – BAFTA, Critics Choice, Golden Globes, DGA, PGA, and SAG – it’s the first...
- 3/7/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Last year, we heard that Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss would be launching a new production company with Gary Hamilton (so the company is appropriately called Simmons/Hamilton Productions), and the first project they had given the greenlight was a shark thriller called Deep Water – with Deep Blue Sea director Renny Harlin attached to take the helm of the film! That film has since made its way through production, and a couple days ago we learned that the cast includes Aaron Eckhart of Harlin’s The Bricklayer, Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi), Molly Wright (Netflix’s True Spirit), Angus Sampson (Mad Max: Fury Road), Kelly Gale (Plane), singer and actor Li Wenhan, who is a member of the Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Nashi (Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms). Now a first look image has made its way online, and it shows the characters played by Eckhart and Wright.
- 2/15/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
‘Deep Water’ – Here’s the First Image of Aaron Eckhart in ‘Deep Blue Sea’ Director’s New Shark Movie
Renny Harlin is one busy filmmaker at the moment, with his The Strangers: Chapter 1 headed our way here in 2024 and a brand new shark attack horror movie also coming soon.
Twenty five years after the release of Deep Blue Sea, director Renny Harlin is headed back into shark-infested waters with the upcoming Deep Water, we learned last year.
Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley will star in the upcoming shark movie, and Screen Daily exclusively shares a first look image this morning. Check it out up above.
Deep Water is coming soon from Arclight Films. Stay tuned for more.
Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms) also star.
Deep Water tells the tale of an eclectic group of international passengers whose plane,...
Twenty five years after the release of Deep Blue Sea, director Renny Harlin is headed back into shark-infested waters with the upcoming Deep Water, we learned last year.
Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley will star in the upcoming shark movie, and Screen Daily exclusively shares a first look image this morning. Check it out up above.
Deep Water is coming soon from Arclight Films. Stay tuned for more.
Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms) also star.
Deep Water tells the tale of an eclectic group of international passengers whose plane,...
- 2/15/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Twenty five years after the release of Deep Blue Sea, director Renny Harlin is headed back into shark-infested waters with the upcoming Deep Water, we learned last year.
Screen Daily now reports this morning that Harlin is throwing two big name actors into the Deep Water. Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley will star in the upcoming shark movie.
Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms) also star.
Screen Daily notes in their report this morning that filming on Deep Water has actually already wrapped. “Arclight Films continues worldwide sales at EFM this week.”
Deep Water tells the tale of an eclectic group of international passengers whose plane, en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai, is forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters.
Screen Daily now reports this morning that Harlin is throwing two big name actors into the Deep Water. Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley will star in the upcoming shark movie.
Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms) also star.
Screen Daily notes in their report this morning that filming on Deep Water has actually already wrapped. “Arclight Films continues worldwide sales at EFM this week.”
Deep Water tells the tale of an eclectic group of international passengers whose plane, en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai, is forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters.
- 2/13/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Last year, we heard that Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss would be launching a new production company with Gary Hamilton (so the company is appropriately called Simmons/Hamilton Productions), and the first project they had given the greenlight was a shark thriller called Deep Water – with Deep Blue Sea director Renny Harlin attached to take the helm of the film! That film has since made its way through production, and a press release reveals that the cast includes Aaron Eckhart of Harlin’s The Bricklayer, Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi), Molly Wright (Netflix’s True Spirit), Angus Sampson (Mad Max: Fury Road), Kelly Gale (Plane), singer and actor Li Wenhan, who is a member of the Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Nashi (Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms).
Scripted by Pete Bridges and John Kim, Deep Water centers on an eclectic group of international passengers whose plane,...
Scripted by Pete Bridges and John Kim, Deep Water centers on an eclectic group of international passengers whose plane,...
- 2/13/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Arclight Films has announced that Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley star in Renny Harlin’s survival thriller Deep Water, which is in post. Arclight continues worldwide sales at EFM this week.
The first feature greenlit by the stand-alone label Simmons/Hamilton Productions wrapped at the end of last year in New Zealand and Spain.
The lead cast includes Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s upcoming The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms).
Harlin, whose credits include Die Hard 2,...
The first feature greenlit by the stand-alone label Simmons/Hamilton Productions wrapped at the end of last year in New Zealand and Spain.
The lead cast includes Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s upcoming The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms).
Harlin, whose credits include Die Hard 2,...
- 2/13/2024
- ScreenDaily
A total of 35 films from 24 countries and regions have been shortlisted to compete for 16 awards at this year's Asian Film Awards.
Renowned Japanese director Kurosawa Kiyoshi will serve as the Jury President for this year's Awards. As the first Japanese director to hold this position, Kurosawa Kiyoshi is deeply honored. He will lead the Jury and over 200 Voting Members in selecting the winners for this year's Asian Film Awards.
The winners of other Afa awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, Afa Next Generation Award, and Rising Star Award, will be announced later.
The 17th Asian Film Awards Nomination List
Best Film
12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Paradise
Perfect Days (Japan)
Snow Leopard (Mainland China)
Best Director
Kim Sung-soo | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Gu Xiaogang | Dwelling by the West Lake (Mainland China)
Hamaguchi Ryusuke | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Kore-eda Hirokazu...
Renowned Japanese director Kurosawa Kiyoshi will serve as the Jury President for this year's Awards. As the first Japanese director to hold this position, Kurosawa Kiyoshi is deeply honored. He will lead the Jury and over 200 Voting Members in selecting the winners for this year's Asian Film Awards.
The winners of other Afa awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, Afa Next Generation Award, and Rising Star Award, will be announced later.
The 17th Asian Film Awards Nomination List
Best Film
12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Paradise
Perfect Days (Japan)
Snow Leopard (Mainland China)
Best Director
Kim Sung-soo | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Gu Xiaogang | Dwelling by the West Lake (Mainland China)
Hamaguchi Ryusuke | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Kore-eda Hirokazu...
- 1/12/2024
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
‘Snow Leopard’, ‘Paradise’, ‘The Goldfinger’ and ‘Godzilla Minus One’ also land multiple nods.
South Korean box office hit 12.12: The Day and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist lead the nominations for the 17th Asian Film Awards, with six nods each including best film.
Also up for best film is Prasanna Vithanage’s Paradise from Sri Lanka-India, Wim Wenders Perfect Days from Japan and Chinese feature Snow Leopard by the late Pema Tseden.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hong Kong on March 10 and will be decided by a...
South Korean box office hit 12.12: The Day and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist lead the nominations for the 17th Asian Film Awards, with six nods each including best film.
Also up for best film is Prasanna Vithanage’s Paradise from Sri Lanka-India, Wim Wenders Perfect Days from Japan and Chinese feature Snow Leopard by the late Pema Tseden.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hong Kong on March 10 and will be decided by a...
- 1/12/2024
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest feature, Evil Does Not Exist, and the period action pic 12.12: The Day, from Korea, lead the nominations at this year’s Asian Film Awards.
Both films received six nominations, including Best Film and Best Director. Directed by Kim Sung-soo, whose credits include Asura: The City Of Madness and The Flu, 12.12: The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup of 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The cast includes Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City Of Madness), and Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North). Released on November 22, the film sailed past the 12 million admissions mark at the Korean box office over the Christmas holiday period, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2023 in the market.
Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist — which debuted out of Venice — follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live...
Both films received six nominations, including Best Film and Best Director. Directed by Kim Sung-soo, whose credits include Asura: The City Of Madness and The Flu, 12.12: The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup of 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The cast includes Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City Of Madness), and Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North). Released on November 22, the film sailed past the 12 million admissions mark at the Korean box office over the Christmas holiday period, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2023 in the market.
Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist — which debuted out of Venice — follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live...
- 1/12/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
321 films are in contention for this year’s Academy Awards, while 265 features are eligible in the best picture category, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday as it released its annual “reminder list” for members.
To be eligible in the general categories, films (meaning a runtime of more than 40 minutes) must open in a commercial theater in at least one of the following areas: Los Angeles County; the city of New York; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia, between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2023. Additionally, it must complete a minimum qualifying run of seven consecutive days in the same venue.
To be eligible for the best picture category specifically, the movies must be eligible for the general entry and have “submitted a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards entry form.” Additionally, the film must meet two of the four standards required, in addition to the theatrical component.
To be eligible in the general categories, films (meaning a runtime of more than 40 minutes) must open in a commercial theater in at least one of the following areas: Los Angeles County; the city of New York; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia, between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2023. Additionally, it must complete a minimum qualifying run of seven consecutive days in the same venue.
To be eligible for the best picture category specifically, the movies must be eligible for the general entry and have “submitted a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards entry form.” Additionally, the film must meet two of the four standards required, in addition to the theatrical component.
- 1/8/2024
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The country recorded its highest cinema admissions in four years.
China took $7.7bn (RMB54.9b) at the box office in 2023, representing an 83% year-on-year increase and the highest cinema admissions in four years, but still 14.5% behind pre-pandemic 2019.
Local audiences continued to show their unwavering support for local productions, which claimed all the top 10 slots in the annual chart. The biggest among them were two Chinese New Year releases, historical mystery Full River Red and sci-fi The Wandering Earth 2, which both surpassed the landmark RMB4bn ($562m) mark.
Half of the top 10 were local summer hits, including crime drama No More Bets,...
China took $7.7bn (RMB54.9b) at the box office in 2023, representing an 83% year-on-year increase and the highest cinema admissions in four years, but still 14.5% behind pre-pandemic 2019.
Local audiences continued to show their unwavering support for local productions, which claimed all the top 10 slots in the annual chart. The biggest among them were two Chinese New Year releases, historical mystery Full River Red and sci-fi The Wandering Earth 2, which both surpassed the landmark RMB4bn ($562m) mark.
Half of the top 10 were local summer hits, including crime drama No More Bets,...
- 1/4/2024
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Stars Collective, a Los Angeles-based film finance and mentorship arm, has announced the launch of Stars Asian International Film Festival – a new capsule film showcase to take place in Los Angeles November 12-16.
The festival, which will include a dozen feature selections celebrating Asian cinema, will spotlight a broad range of exceptional films by Asian filmmakers, including a Xiaogang Feng Retrospective which will run from the 9th to the 16th. Kicking off the festival will be the Opening Ceremony on November 12th; the StarS Summit held at the Petersen Automotive Museum on November 13th; followed by the StarS Gala, in collaboration with Women In Film (Wif) on November 14th at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion; and concluding with the Closing Gala at the Los Angeles Theatre on November 16th.
“We are thrilled to launch the Stars Asian International Film Festival. This festival embodies our commitment to showcasing the richness and diversity of Asian cinema,...
The festival, which will include a dozen feature selections celebrating Asian cinema, will spotlight a broad range of exceptional films by Asian filmmakers, including a Xiaogang Feng Retrospective which will run from the 9th to the 16th. Kicking off the festival will be the Opening Ceremony on November 12th; the StarS Summit held at the Petersen Automotive Museum on November 13th; followed by the StarS Gala, in collaboration with Women In Film (Wif) on November 14th at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion; and concluding with the Closing Gala at the Los Angeles Theatre on November 16th.
“We are thrilled to launch the Stars Asian International Film Festival. This festival embodies our commitment to showcasing the richness and diversity of Asian cinema,...
- 11/6/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
China has brought the figures, and it has brought the films to this year’s AFM as the country pushes the positive narrative of an industry in recovery from the woes of the past few years thanks to diverse content and a post-pandemic audience hungry for entertainment.
All told, there have been 40 Chinese film companies involved and more than 100 Chinese films showcased at AFM’s China Film Pavilion, providing an insight into an industry that has over the past few months inched its way ever closer to the record box office figures that were being enjoyed back in 2019.
The box office report released last week by film and cinema industry watchers Artisan Gateway for the Oct. 20-22 weekend showed revenue of just below $40 million, which was 11.9 percent down compared with the same period in 2019, but up 76.5 percent from the same weekend in 2022.
On top for the weekend was the slow-burn...
All told, there have been 40 Chinese film companies involved and more than 100 Chinese films showcased at AFM’s China Film Pavilion, providing an insight into an industry that has over the past few months inched its way ever closer to the record box office figures that were being enjoyed back in 2019.
The box office report released last week by film and cinema industry watchers Artisan Gateway for the Oct. 20-22 weekend showed revenue of just below $40 million, which was 11.9 percent down compared with the same period in 2019, but up 76.5 percent from the same weekend in 2022.
On top for the weekend was the slow-burn...
- 11/2/2023
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The crime drama will be released on December 30.
Trinity CineAsia has acquired Hong Kong tentpole The Goldfinger for the UK and Ireland after striking a deal with Emperor Motion Pictures.
The crime drama will reunite Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau and Tony Leung with writer/director Felix Chong for the first time since 2002’s Infernal Affairs. That film, co-written by Chong and directed by Lau and Alan Mak, spawned a trilogy of films and inspired Martin Scorsese’s 2006 Oscar-winning crime thriller The Departed.
UK-based Trinity CineAsia will theatrically release The Goldfinger in UK and Irish cinemas on December 30, co-ordinated with...
Trinity CineAsia has acquired Hong Kong tentpole The Goldfinger for the UK and Ireland after striking a deal with Emperor Motion Pictures.
The crime drama will reunite Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau and Tony Leung with writer/director Felix Chong for the first time since 2002’s Infernal Affairs. That film, co-written by Chong and directed by Lau and Alan Mak, spawned a trilogy of films and inspired Martin Scorsese’s 2006 Oscar-winning crime thriller The Departed.
UK-based Trinity CineAsia will theatrically release The Goldfinger in UK and Irish cinemas on December 30, co-ordinated with...
- 10/31/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Black Bear makes its biggest release with ‘Dumb Money’.
Expend4bles is looking to end the action franchise on a high note at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, opening in 577 cinemas through Lionsgate.
Billed as the final film entry in the series, Expend4bles sees the titular team of mercenaries tasked with preventing a Third World War. Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture all reprise their roles, with Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran and Andy Garcia all joining the cast.
Expend4bles resurrects the franchise after a nine-year hiatus since 2014’s The Expendables 3.
Expend4bles is looking to end the action franchise on a high note at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, opening in 577 cinemas through Lionsgate.
Billed as the final film entry in the series, Expend4bles sees the titular team of mercenaries tasked with preventing a Third World War. Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture all reprise their roles, with Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran and Andy Garcia all joining the cast.
Expend4bles resurrects the franchise after a nine-year hiatus since 2014’s The Expendables 3.
- 9/22/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Trinity CineAsia has acquired Chinese fantasy epic Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms for multiple territories, including the UK, Ireland, France and Spain.
Highlight Entertainment Co is handling international sales on the film, the first installment in a planned trilogy, which opened in China in late July and became a big hit, grossing more than $400M and still running.
Directed by leading Chinese filmmaker Wu Ershan (Mojin: The Lost Legend), the film is based on Chinese classic ‘Investiture Of The Gods’ (Fengshen Bang) and tells the story of an epic battle between humans, immortals and monsters during the overthrow of King Zhou at the end of the Shang Dynasty.
The cast is headed by Kris Phillips, Li Xuejian, Huang Bo, Yu Shi, Chen Muchi and Naran. Lead producers on the film include Du Yang, Luo Shanshan, Wu Erhan and Yan Xuefeng.
The film is being released theatrically...
Highlight Entertainment Co is handling international sales on the film, the first installment in a planned trilogy, which opened in China in late July and became a big hit, grossing more than $400M and still running.
Directed by leading Chinese filmmaker Wu Ershan (Mojin: The Lost Legend), the film is based on Chinese classic ‘Investiture Of The Gods’ (Fengshen Bang) and tells the story of an epic battle between humans, immortals and monsters during the overthrow of King Zhou at the end of the Shang Dynasty.
The cast is headed by Kris Phillips, Li Xuejian, Huang Bo, Yu Shi, Chen Muchi and Naran. Lead producers on the film include Du Yang, Luo Shanshan, Wu Erhan and Yan Xuefeng.
The film is being released theatrically...
- 9/20/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
China Box Office: ‘Oppenheimer’ Nears $50M but Loses Second Weekend to Local Thriller ‘Dust to Dust’
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer climbed to $47.2 million in China over the weekend, continuing a better-than-expected run in the world’s second-biggest box office territory. But the blockbuster biopic ceded first place to Chinese crime thriller Dust to Dust, which came on strong with a $22.2 million two-day opening starting Saturday, topping Oppenheimer‘s $9.6 million Friday-to-Sunday total, according to data from box office tracker Artisan Gateway.
Chinese ticketing app Maoyan forecasts Oppenheimer will finish its local run with approximately $57 million, which will make it the fourth-biggest U.S. film release in China in 2023 behind Fast X ($139.5 million), Meg 2: The Trench ($116.5 million, but a China co-production) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($86.9 million).
Despite its long runtime and weighty historical subject matter — which many analysts expected would be a drag in China — Oppenheimer has been boosted by a rave local reception. On the influential fan platform Douban, it has received nearly...
Chinese ticketing app Maoyan forecasts Oppenheimer will finish its local run with approximately $57 million, which will make it the fourth-biggest U.S. film release in China in 2023 behind Fast X ($139.5 million), Meg 2: The Trench ($116.5 million, but a China co-production) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($86.9 million).
Despite its long runtime and weighty historical subject matter — which many analysts expected would be a drag in China — Oppenheimer has been boosted by a rave local reception. On the influential fan platform Douban, it has received nearly...
- 9/11/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to fantasy epic Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, one of China’s biggest films of the year.
Directed by Wuershan (Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Mojin: The Lost Legend), the film is the first installment in the planned Fengshen Trilogy, a three-part feature adaptation of the classic Chinese novel by Xu Zhonglin. It stars Kris Phillips (The Monkey King 2), Li Xuejian (The Wandering Earth II), Huang Bo (Journey to the West), Yu Shi (Born to Fly), Chen Muchi, Ci Sha and acclaimed newcomer Naran.
Among the Beijing film industry’s top-earning titles this summer, Kingdom of Storms has earned $375 million in China and remains on release.
Well Go will put the film out in North American theaters Sept. 22, with special Imax preview showings available in select locations Sept. 20.
The first installment of the trilogy’s legendary tale — which...
Directed by Wuershan (Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Mojin: The Lost Legend), the film is the first installment in the planned Fengshen Trilogy, a three-part feature adaptation of the classic Chinese novel by Xu Zhonglin. It stars Kris Phillips (The Monkey King 2), Li Xuejian (The Wandering Earth II), Huang Bo (Journey to the West), Yu Shi (Born to Fly), Chen Muchi, Ci Sha and acclaimed newcomer Naran.
Among the Beijing film industry’s top-earning titles this summer, Kingdom of Storms has earned $375 million in China and remains on release.
Well Go will put the film out in North American theaters Sept. 22, with special Imax preview showings available in select locations Sept. 20.
The first installment of the trilogy’s legendary tale — which...
- 9/8/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Oppenheimer” landed on top of the mainland China cinema box office with an impressive score for a Hollywood movie in the current climate. More typically, gaming adaptation “Gran Turismo” failed to get far off the start line.
While most films open in China on Fridays, Christopher Nolan’s nuclear opus was given a wide release from Wednesday.
It scored $21.3 million (RMB154 million) over the conventional Friday to Sunday weekend and $30.7 million (RMB221 million) over its opening five days, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Local data providers show that the film topped the charts on all five days of its run.
Universal Pictures reports that the film opened on 35,000 screens at 11,000 locations in China, including 761 Imax venues.
Local data providers estimate that, in contrast, “Gran Turismo” made just $1.2 million over its more conventional three-day getaway.
Universal claimed that “Oppenheimer” enjoyed the third biggest Hollywood opening this year behind...
While most films open in China on Fridays, Christopher Nolan’s nuclear opus was given a wide release from Wednesday.
It scored $21.3 million (RMB154 million) over the conventional Friday to Sunday weekend and $30.7 million (RMB221 million) over its opening five days, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Local data providers show that the film topped the charts on all five days of its run.
Universal Pictures reports that the film opened on 35,000 screens at 11,000 locations in China, including 761 Imax venues.
Local data providers estimate that, in contrast, “Gran Turismo” made just $1.2 million over its more conventional three-day getaway.
Universal claimed that “Oppenheimer” enjoyed the third biggest Hollywood opening this year behind...
- 9/4/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Festival For All
The third edition of Fragments Festival (Sept. 28-Oct. 1) – set up as a platform for underrepresented filmmakers and as a showcase of films featuring unique individuals and minority groups – returns to London’s Genesis cinema and will open with Ken Loach‘s “The Old Oak.” The film centers on struggling pub The Old Oak, where tensions mount following the sudden arrival of Syrian refugees who have been housed in the area. The festival closes with Anna Hints‘ “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood,” the Estonian entry for the 2024 Oscars that documents a space where women can share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences.
This year’s festival comprises eight features, 26 shorts and 11 events highlighting stories by and of women, non-binary people and other members of the Lgbtqia+ community, disabled people, working class individuals, and Black, Asian and Arab communities.
Genesis owner Tyrone Walker-Hebborn said: “With the world increasingly opening up to diversity,...
The third edition of Fragments Festival (Sept. 28-Oct. 1) – set up as a platform for underrepresented filmmakers and as a showcase of films featuring unique individuals and minority groups – returns to London’s Genesis cinema and will open with Ken Loach‘s “The Old Oak.” The film centers on struggling pub The Old Oak, where tensions mount following the sudden arrival of Syrian refugees who have been housed in the area. The festival closes with Anna Hints‘ “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood,” the Estonian entry for the 2024 Oscars that documents a space where women can share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences.
This year’s festival comprises eight features, 26 shorts and 11 events highlighting stories by and of women, non-binary people and other members of the Lgbtqia+ community, disabled people, working class individuals, and Black, Asian and Arab communities.
Genesis owner Tyrone Walker-Hebborn said: “With the world increasingly opening up to diversity,...
- 9/1/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese crime action film “No More Bets” headed the mainland China box office for the fourth consecutive weekend, cementing its place as one of the biggest films in the world this year.
Between Friday and Sunday, it earned $33.5 million (RMB241 million), according to data from specialist consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Global data provider Comscore ranked that as the third highest performance of the weekend anywhere in the world, narrowly behind “Barbie’s” $35.3 million.
The latest increment advanced “No More Bets’” cumulative score to $469 million (RMB3.37 billion).
“Papa,” a comedy about parental efforts to improve their son’s education, held an unchanged second place in its second week. It earned $14.9 million over the weekend, a 37% week-on-week decline that gives it a 10-day cumulative of $59.2 million. The film is produced by comedian Huang Bo, who also stars. Huang appears in two of this year’s other hits, “Creation of the Gods” and “One and Only.
Between Friday and Sunday, it earned $33.5 million (RMB241 million), according to data from specialist consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Global data provider Comscore ranked that as the third highest performance of the weekend anywhere in the world, narrowly behind “Barbie’s” $35.3 million.
The latest increment advanced “No More Bets’” cumulative score to $469 million (RMB3.37 billion).
“Papa,” a comedy about parental efforts to improve their son’s education, held an unchanged second place in its second week. It earned $14.9 million over the weekend, a 37% week-on-week decline that gives it a 10-day cumulative of $59.2 million. The film is produced by comedian Huang Bo, who also stars. Huang appears in two of this year’s other hits, “Creation of the Gods” and “One and Only.
- 8/28/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The box office in mainland China reached an all-time high in the summer season, according to figures from ticketing agency Maoyan Entertainment. The record was achieved with minimal input from Hollywood.
Maoyan, which defines China’s cinematic summer as running from the beginning of June to the end of August, says that the previous record of RMB17.8 billion, set in 2018, was beaten on Thursday evening (local time) – some two weeks before the end of the current season.
China’s cinema-going rebound started with a jolt after mainland authorities abruptly dropped anti-covid restrictions in mid-December 2022 allowing “Avatar: The Way of Water” to profit from a wave of revenge consumption. The late January to early February Chinese New Year period also delivered a record box office of about $1 billion, before the gravitational pull of China’s slowing economy flattened the recovery.
The summer season has witnessed a succession of locally-produced films across...
Maoyan, which defines China’s cinematic summer as running from the beginning of June to the end of August, says that the previous record of RMB17.8 billion, set in 2018, was beaten on Thursday evening (local time) – some two weeks before the end of the current season.
China’s cinema-going rebound started with a jolt after mainland authorities abruptly dropped anti-covid restrictions in mid-December 2022 allowing “Avatar: The Way of Water” to profit from a wave of revenge consumption. The late January to early February Chinese New Year period also delivered a record box office of about $1 billion, before the gravitational pull of China’s slowing economy flattened the recovery.
The summer season has witnessed a succession of locally-produced films across...
- 8/17/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Universal’s ‘Oppenheimer’ nears $650m worldwide.
Worldwide box office Aug 11-13, 2023 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) 3-day (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. No More Bets (various) $87.9m $231.9m $87.9m $231.9m 1 2. Barbie (Warner Bros) $78.8m $1.18bn $45.1m $657.6m 76 3. Meg 2: The Trench (Warner Bros) $56.4m $256.9m $43.7m $202.8m 76 4. Oppenheimer (Universal) $50.7m $649m $31.9m $384.8m 80 5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount) $26.2m $94.7m $10.4m $21.9m 48 6. Creation Of The Gods: Part 1 (various) $23.9m $275.6m $23.9m $275.6m 1 7. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount) $15.6m $522.5m $10.9m $362.9m 68 8. Gran Turismo: Based On A True Story (Sony) $10.7m $10.7m $10.7m...
Worldwide box office Aug 11-13, 2023 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) 3-day (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. No More Bets (various) $87.9m $231.9m $87.9m $231.9m 1 2. Barbie (Warner Bros) $78.8m $1.18bn $45.1m $657.6m 76 3. Meg 2: The Trench (Warner Bros) $56.4m $256.9m $43.7m $202.8m 76 4. Oppenheimer (Universal) $50.7m $649m $31.9m $384.8m 80 5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount) $26.2m $94.7m $10.4m $21.9m 48 6. Creation Of The Gods: Part 1 (various) $23.9m $275.6m $23.9m $275.6m 1 7. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount) $15.6m $522.5m $10.9m $362.9m 68 8. Gran Turismo: Based On A True Story (Sony) $10.7m $10.7m $10.7m...
- 8/14/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Chinese crime action movie “No More Bets,” not “Barbie,” was the best performing film in the world this weekend.
Comscore calculates that “No More Bets,” earned $88 million between Friday and Sunday in China alone. That figure is greater than the $33.7 million that “Barbie” earned in its fourth weekend of release in North America and the $45.1 million that it earned in international territories. “Barbie” now has a $1.18 billion global cumulative.
Comscore also has another Chinese-financed movie “Meg 2: The Trench” in third place worldwide over the weekend, with $12.7 million in North America and $43.7 million (for a weekend total of $56.4 million).
China box office data from Artisan Gateway, used by studio distributors as definitive rather than estimates, shows “No More Bets” performing even more strongly over the weekend. Artisan Gateway reports that “No More Bets” million earned $101 million (RMB718 million) in China for a total of $248 (RMB1.76 million) at the end of...
Comscore calculates that “No More Bets,” earned $88 million between Friday and Sunday in China alone. That figure is greater than the $33.7 million that “Barbie” earned in its fourth weekend of release in North America and the $45.1 million that it earned in international territories. “Barbie” now has a $1.18 billion global cumulative.
Comscore also has another Chinese-financed movie “Meg 2: The Trench” in third place worldwide over the weekend, with $12.7 million in North America and $43.7 million (for a weekend total of $56.4 million).
China box office data from Artisan Gateway, used by studio distributors as definitive rather than estimates, shows “No More Bets” performing even more strongly over the weekend. Artisan Gateway reports that “No More Bets” million earned $101 million (RMB718 million) in China for a total of $248 (RMB1.76 million) at the end of...
- 8/14/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Theatrical cinema in July enjoyed its highest revenues since pre-pandemic times, with global box office hitting $4.54 billion during the month.
“This is the single highest-grossing month since before the pandemic began. The result sees July 2023 track 17% ahead of the July average of the last three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019),” said research and advisory firm Gower Street Analytics.
“July 2023 also marked the first month since the pandemic began in 2020 that all three key component markets that make up the global picture — North America, China and international (excluding China) — tracked ahead of their pre-pandemic averages.”
The July box office in North America stacked up to $1.36 billion, 11% better than the 2017-2019 three-year average; $1.98 billion in international (excluding China), 7% ahead of the same three-year average; and $1.2 billion in China, some 53% better than its three-year average.
The July surge has most notably been propelled by the “Barbenheimer” duo of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” ($226 million international cumulative and...
“This is the single highest-grossing month since before the pandemic began. The result sees July 2023 track 17% ahead of the July average of the last three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019),” said research and advisory firm Gower Street Analytics.
“July 2023 also marked the first month since the pandemic began in 2020 that all three key component markets that make up the global picture — North America, China and international (excluding China) — tracked ahead of their pre-pandemic averages.”
The July box office in North America stacked up to $1.36 billion, 11% better than the 2017-2019 three-year average; $1.98 billion in international (excluding China), 7% ahead of the same three-year average; and $1.2 billion in China, some 53% better than its three-year average.
The July surge has most notably been propelled by the “Barbenheimer” duo of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” ($226 million international cumulative and...
- 8/3/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
‘Lost In The Stars’ and ‘Never Say Never’ among local hits that have propelled takings.
China’s box office continued to heat up in the summer months as July closed with $1.2bn (RMB8.7bn), the second biggest month this year, according to the latest data provided by Artisan Gateway.
Four local films ruled the market, each of which crossed the RMB1bn mark. Directed by and starring Wang Baoqiang, Happy Pictures’ Never Say Never has taken $287.7m (RMB2.04bn) as of July 30. The drama opened on July 6 and is based on a true story of a man who turned orphans into martial arts fighters.
China’s box office continued to heat up in the summer months as July closed with $1.2bn (RMB8.7bn), the second biggest month this year, according to the latest data provided by Artisan Gateway.
Four local films ruled the market, each of which crossed the RMB1bn mark. Directed by and starring Wang Baoqiang, Happy Pictures’ Never Say Never has taken $287.7m (RMB2.04bn) as of July 30. The drama opened on July 6 and is based on a true story of a man who turned orphans into martial arts fighters.
- 8/2/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
In the end, it was always going to come down to those youngsters.
China’s First International Film Festival, which has now 17 editions, prided itself on providing a platform on which the county’s next generation of filmmakers can reveal their talent. Fittingly, then, the event is attended by a predominantly young audience. They travel in large numbers to the city of Xining, set in China’s mountainous central region, fringing the Tibetan Plateau, and they really do feast on the program of independent films.
There were 98 films screened across the festival’s nine-day run, 27 features and 71 shorts among them. There were Q&a sessions with the audience that often ran well into overtime, such was the enthusiasm shown for everything from a gritty but life-affirming three-hour drama about a migrant woman trying to forge a life in a big city (Qin Tian’s Fate of the Moonlight) to a...
China’s First International Film Festival, which has now 17 editions, prided itself on providing a platform on which the county’s next generation of filmmakers can reveal their talent. Fittingly, then, the event is attended by a predominantly young audience. They travel in large numbers to the city of Xining, set in China’s mountainous central region, fringing the Tibetan Plateau, and they really do feast on the program of independent films.
There were 98 films screened across the festival’s nine-day run, 27 features and 71 shorts among them. There were Q&a sessions with the audience that often ran well into overtime, such was the enthusiasm shown for everything from a gritty but life-affirming three-hour drama about a migrant woman trying to forge a life in a big city (Qin Tian’s Fate of the Moonlight) to a...
- 7/31/2023
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After a soft start in China, Barbie began to make inroads in the world’s second-biggest movie market in its second frame, buoyed by great critics scores and strong word of mouth.
Barbie opened to $8 million in China last weekend, claiming fifth place amid tough competition from local hits Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, Chang An and Never Say Never. The modest total seemed to suggest that Barbie would go the way of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and a slew of recent Hollywood tentpoles that opened weak in China and failed to show legs — feeding into the trend that Chinese consumers were turning away from Western fare at the multiplex.
But unlike other recent Hollywood releases, Greta Gerwig’s had excellent scores on China’s most respected movie apps when it opened, earning 9.4 on Maoyan, 9.3 on Tao Piao Piao and 8.6 on Douban. This, along...
Barbie opened to $8 million in China last weekend, claiming fifth place amid tough competition from local hits Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, Chang An and Never Say Never. The modest total seemed to suggest that Barbie would go the way of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and a slew of recent Hollywood tentpoles that opened weak in China and failed to show legs — feeding into the trend that Chinese consumers were turning away from Western fare at the multiplex.
But unlike other recent Hollywood releases, Greta Gerwig’s had excellent scores on China’s most respected movie apps when it opened, earning 9.4 on Maoyan, 9.3 on Tao Piao Piao and 8.6 on Douban. This, along...
- 7/31/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” the first part of Wuershan’s big-budget “Fengshen Trilogy,” topped the mainland China box office for the second weekend and expanded its week-on-week haul by 35%.
‘Barbie’ also showed signs of resilience in a market where it opened a week earlier in a disappointing fifth place.
“Creation of the Gods I” grossed $57.6 million. according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. That compares with $42.6 million in it opening frame and after 11 days in Chinese theaters, it has earned $156 million. Also, unlike its first weekend, “Creation of the Gods” was the winner on each day between Friday and Sunday.
The “Fengshen Trilogy” set out to be a mega scale blending of history, folklore and mythology from more than 3,000 years ago, that would be China’s answer to both “Lord of the Rings” and “Iron Man.” It counts of Barrie Osborne (“Lord of the Rings...
‘Barbie’ also showed signs of resilience in a market where it opened a week earlier in a disappointing fifth place.
“Creation of the Gods I” grossed $57.6 million. according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. That compares with $42.6 million in it opening frame and after 11 days in Chinese theaters, it has earned $156 million. Also, unlike its first weekend, “Creation of the Gods” was the winner on each day between Friday and Sunday.
The “Fengshen Trilogy” set out to be a mega scale blending of history, folklore and mythology from more than 3,000 years ago, that would be China’s answer to both “Lord of the Rings” and “Iron Man.” It counts of Barrie Osborne (“Lord of the Rings...
- 7/31/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
‘Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms’ opened with $42.6m.
‘Barbie’ opened in fifth place at the China box office, unable to match the number one success it has achieved in several other key international territories around the world.
Released by Warner Bros, the US feature starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling took just $8.2m across the three-day weekend from July 21, according to consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which Universal Pictures opened in numerous territories globally over the weekend, has secured a China release but no date has yet been assigned by regulators meaning a launch...
‘Barbie’ opened in fifth place at the China box office, unable to match the number one success it has achieved in several other key international territories around the world.
Released by Warner Bros, the US feature starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling took just $8.2m across the three-day weekend from July 21, according to consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which Universal Pictures opened in numerous territories globally over the weekend, has secured a China release but no date has yet been assigned by regulators meaning a launch...
- 7/24/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Barbie‘s phenomenal box office opening in the U.S. wasn’t matched in China — not by a long shot.
The Greta Gerwig-directed Warner Bros. blockbuster opened to just $8 million in China, finishing the weekend in fifth place behind a bunch of local Chinese hits. In North America, the film debuted to a record-setting $155 million.
The soft start for Barbie continues a trend of Hollywood films earning much less in China than they once did. Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One badly lost its opening in China the weekend prior with a third-place start behind a pair of Chinese holdovers.
Word of mouth for Barbie has been strong, despite the tepid sales. Its social scores are 9.4 on Maoyan, 9.3 on Tao Piao Piao and 8.6 on Douban. On Monday, the good buzz appeared to be giving Barbie a modest boost, with its sales ranking climbing into third place for the day.
The Greta Gerwig-directed Warner Bros. blockbuster opened to just $8 million in China, finishing the weekend in fifth place behind a bunch of local Chinese hits. In North America, the film debuted to a record-setting $155 million.
The soft start for Barbie continues a trend of Hollywood films earning much less in China than they once did. Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One badly lost its opening in China the weekend prior with a third-place start behind a pair of Chinese holdovers.
Word of mouth for Barbie has been strong, despite the tepid sales. Its social scores are 9.4 on Maoyan, 9.3 on Tao Piao Piao and 8.6 on Douban. On Monday, the good buzz appeared to be giving Barbie a modest boost, with its sales ranking climbing into third place for the day.
- 7/24/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
While “Barbie” was romping to box office records in North American and scoring strongly in many international territories, the pink phenomenon could muster only fifth place in China, the world’s second largest movie market, on its opening weekend.
“Barbie” managed $8.2 million in its opening three days, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.
Local box office sources show the film trapped in that position on all three days of the weekend session, as the locally-produced titles jostled for leadership and swapped positions. Somewhat encouragingly, the daily score for “Barbie” had increased by Sunday as it was given more screening sessions by Chinese exhibitors.
“Barbie” joins a growing list of Hollywood films that have disappointed at the mainland Chinese box office this year. Others include “The Little Mermaid,” “Indiana Jones” and “Fast X.”
Hollywood titles are facing fewer structural impediments in China (import and certification delays) that they did in recent years.
“Barbie” managed $8.2 million in its opening three days, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.
Local box office sources show the film trapped in that position on all three days of the weekend session, as the locally-produced titles jostled for leadership and swapped positions. Somewhat encouragingly, the daily score for “Barbie” had increased by Sunday as it was given more screening sessions by Chinese exhibitors.
“Barbie” joins a growing list of Hollywood films that have disappointed at the mainland Chinese box office this year. Others include “The Little Mermaid,” “Indiana Jones” and “Fast X.”
Hollywood titles are facing fewer structural impediments in China (import and certification delays) that they did in recent years.
- 7/24/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Barbenheimer’s box office dominion does not extend to China, it seems.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie released in China Friday to considerable fanfare, but its pink appeal is proving no match for a slew of local Chinese blockbusters. The Warner Bros. comedy-fantasy is on track to finish its opening day in China in sixth place, having earned only $960,000 (Rmb 6.9 million) as of 6:30 p.m. local time.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, meanwhile, has been approved by China’s censors for release, but regulators have yet to assign it a release date. Any China launch for the Universal Pictures historical thriller is now likely at least a month away.
The soft start for Barbie continues a trend of Hollywood films earning much less in China than they once did. Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One badly lost its opening weekend in the country last weekend, debuting...
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie released in China Friday to considerable fanfare, but its pink appeal is proving no match for a slew of local Chinese blockbusters. The Warner Bros. comedy-fantasy is on track to finish its opening day in China in sixth place, having earned only $960,000 (Rmb 6.9 million) as of 6:30 p.m. local time.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, meanwhile, has been approved by China’s censors for release, but regulators have yet to assign it a release date. Any China launch for the Universal Pictures historical thriller is now likely at least a month away.
The soft start for Barbie continues a trend of Hollywood films earning much less in China than they once did. Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One badly lost its opening weekend in the country last weekend, debuting...
- 7/21/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tom Cruise failed to do the seemingly impossible in China over the weekend: Revive Hollywood’s former box office muscle at the world’s second-biggest theatrical movie market.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One badly lost its opening weekend in China, debuting in third place behind a pair of holdover Chinese hits.
The Paramount and Skydance sequel opened to just $25.9 million from Friday to Sunday, a steep tumble from Mission: Impossible Fallout‘s $76 million opening back in 2018. Chinese martial arts drama Never Say Never, meanwhile, earned $46.1 million, followed by local animation hit Chang An with $43.9 million.
Never Say Never, written and directed by local comedy favorite Wang Baoqiang (Lost in Thailand, Detective Chinatown), has brought in a healthy $211.5 million since its July 6 opening. Chang An, the latest release from pioneering Beijing-based animation studio Light Chaser, launched July 8 and has a current total of $96.1 million.
Ticketing app Maoyan forecasts Mission: Impossible 7...
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One badly lost its opening weekend in China, debuting in third place behind a pair of holdover Chinese hits.
The Paramount and Skydance sequel opened to just $25.9 million from Friday to Sunday, a steep tumble from Mission: Impossible Fallout‘s $76 million opening back in 2018. Chinese martial arts drama Never Say Never, meanwhile, earned $46.1 million, followed by local animation hit Chang An with $43.9 million.
Never Say Never, written and directed by local comedy favorite Wang Baoqiang (Lost in Thailand, Detective Chinatown), has brought in a healthy $211.5 million since its July 6 opening. Chang An, the latest release from pioneering Beijing-based animation studio Light Chaser, launched July 8 and has a current total of $96.1 million.
Ticketing app Maoyan forecasts Mission: Impossible 7...
- 7/17/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After a film career spanning more than three decades, production-costume-art designer Tim Yip has achieved plenty, including winning an Oscar and a BAFTA award. But he is only now launching his most uncompromising production, which he calls a “living film project,” and which he hopes will challenge the tradition of cinema.
“I want to make a film that is infinitely long,” Yip told Variety. “I also want to explore my potential and other possibilities. I can keep working on even bigger projects, but they may not be as satisfying as work on this project… which is just me and my camera.”
The result is an ongoing art film project titled “Love Infinity,” a hybrid of fiction and documentary through which Yip re-thinks the format of filmmaking, while investigating the cultural scenes beyond his native Hong Kong.
Produced by art patron and photographer Maryam Eisler, and Mei-Hui Liu, a designer and curator,...
“I want to make a film that is infinitely long,” Yip told Variety. “I also want to explore my potential and other possibilities. I can keep working on even bigger projects, but they may not be as satisfying as work on this project… which is just me and my camera.”
The result is an ongoing art film project titled “Love Infinity,” a hybrid of fiction and documentary through which Yip re-thinks the format of filmmaking, while investigating the cultural scenes beyond his native Hong Kong.
Produced by art patron and photographer Maryam Eisler, and Mei-Hui Liu, a designer and curator,...
- 3/16/2022
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Produced by Bill Kong, the action adventure stars rising talents Chen Linong and Li Xian.
Bill Kong’s Hong Kong-based Edko Films is launching international sales on big-budget CGI fantasy Soul Snatcher, starring rising talents Chen Linong and Li Xian.
The action adventure marks the feature acting debut of Taiwanese pop star Chen, who rose to fame after appearing in Chinese reality show Idol Producer and later joined Chinese boy band Nine Percent. Li has film credits including The Captain and The Enigma Of Arrival, but is best known for his role in hit TV drama Go Go Squid!
Produced...
Bill Kong’s Hong Kong-based Edko Films is launching international sales on big-budget CGI fantasy Soul Snatcher, starring rising talents Chen Linong and Li Xian.
The action adventure marks the feature acting debut of Taiwanese pop star Chen, who rose to fame after appearing in Chinese reality show Idol Producer and later joined Chinese boy band Nine Percent. Li has film credits including The Captain and The Enigma Of Arrival, but is best known for his role in hit TV drama Go Go Squid!
Produced...
- 6/3/2020
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
You can tell from a glance that these are no ordinary horses. Tall, immaculately brushed and each costing tens of thousands of dollars, the 33 thoroughbreds and warmbloods gleam like polished coins in their newly built stables, at odds with the construction cranes and empty housing developments of semirural China around them.
Until the “Fengshen Trilogy” fantasy epic started shooting at the Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis in August of last year, the world’s most populous country didn’t have any film horses. But the production team wasn’t fazed. It scoured the planet for the finest beasts money could buy, recruited a top Hollywood handler, built facilities from scratch and trained the animals in record time, making the seemingly impossible possible within months.
It was par for the course for “Fengshen,” the most ambitious and expensive production in Chinese history. With a crew of more than 2,000 and a planned budget of $445 million,...
Until the “Fengshen Trilogy” fantasy epic started shooting at the Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis in August of last year, the world’s most populous country didn’t have any film horses. But the production team wasn’t fazed. It scoured the planet for the finest beasts money could buy, recruited a top Hollywood handler, built facilities from scratch and trained the animals in record time, making the seemingly impossible possible within months.
It was par for the course for “Fengshen,” the most ambitious and expensive production in Chinese history. With a crew of more than 2,000 and a planned budget of $445 million,...
- 8/14/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
China’s Wanda Studios in Qingdao officially opened on Saturday (April 28) with a low-key ceremony. That was paired with the announcement of ambitious Chinese projects, but a frustrating lack of inbound Hollywood movies.
With the Wanda parent company still in the Chinese government’s sin bin, the stunning new studio may be a tangible indicator that points more to business than showbiz glamour.
There was no red carpet or or global superstars at the grand theater, where the one-hour ceremony took place. The Wanda Group has been under tight government scrutiny in recent years, particularly over its high profile foreign investments including acquisitions of Legendary Entertainment and AMC Theatres. It has been shedding assets and suffered a high turnover of top executives as the conglomerate’s financial and political woes deepened.
That was a stark contrast to the initial launch of the studios’ construction launch in 2013, when Leonardo DiCaprio, John Travolta...
With the Wanda parent company still in the Chinese government’s sin bin, the stunning new studio may be a tangible indicator that points more to business than showbiz glamour.
There was no red carpet or or global superstars at the grand theater, where the one-hour ceremony took place. The Wanda Group has been under tight government scrutiny in recent years, particularly over its high profile foreign investments including acquisitions of Legendary Entertainment and AMC Theatres. It has been shedding assets and suffered a high turnover of top executives as the conglomerate’s financial and political woes deepened.
That was a stark contrast to the initial launch of the studios’ construction launch in 2013, when Leonardo DiCaprio, John Travolta...
- 4/28/2018
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.