Current location:entertainment >>
Record Qingming holiday box office heats up for May Day moviegoing frenzy
entertainment2512People have gathered around
IntroductionBy Zhang Yunlong (Xinhua) 16:22, April 08, 2024BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The robust Qingming Fest ...
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The robust Qingming Festival holiday box office performance bodes well for driving audiences to cinemas in the run-up to the much-anticipated May Day holiday period, one of the year's biggest for moviegoing in China.
China's box office over the three-day holiday from April 4-6 grossed a record 841 million yuan (about 118.54 million U.S. dollars), topping the previous high of 822 million yuan set in 2021, according to figures from Chinese box office tracking services.
Japanese animated film "The Boy and the Heron" led with 390 million yuan, followed by Hollywood's "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" at 237 million yuan.
March and April are typically a relatively quiet period between the Spring Festival and May Day holidays. But this year bucked the trend with a strong lineup of imported titles resonating with audiences and propelling new box office highs.
This demonstrates the breadth and vibrancy of China's film market and provides a confidence boost as the industry consolidates its recovery momentum, according to industry observers.
Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron" first hit theaters in Japan in July 2023 before going on to win numerous awards, including a Golden Globe and an Oscar.
Sparking intense buzz on Chinese social media, it had amassed an impressive user rating of 8.0 out of 10 on review platform Douban even prior to its April 3 opening in Chinese mainland cinemas.
The film, exploring how a 12-year-old boy grapples with his mother's death through a fantastical journey, resonated thematically with the Qingming tomb-sweeping holiday, said Chen Xuguang, director of Peking University's Institute of Film, Television and Theatre. Miyazaki's enormous popularity in China also drove the film's standout performance, he added.
As of Monday morning, "The Boy and the Heron" had grossed over 521 million yuan to become Miyazaki's highest-grossing release ever in China, surpassing 2019's "Spirited Away" at 488 million yuan, according to film data platform Maoyan. Notably, the film's Chinese theatrical receipts have outstripped its box office in Japan.
Premiering on March 29, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" continued its strong run through the holiday, bringing its China total to 665 million yuan.
The screening slate for the five-day May Day holiday starting May 1 is a crowded field. A diverse array of local films like the peacekeeping mission-themed film "Formed Police Unit," romantic drama "I Love You, to the Moon, and Back," and comedy thriller "Nothing Can't Be Undone by a HotPot," as well as imported titles, such as Miyazaki's 2004 classic "Howl's Moving Castle" and Japanese animated comedy "Spy x Family Code: White," are set to join the fray on May 1 or April 30, according to the latest schedule on platforms Maoyan and Beacon.
Upcoming titles before April 30 include crime thriller "In Broad Daylight," fantasy comedy "Woof Woof Daddy," drama "Battle" and American documentary "Kim's Video."
"Cinema-going has become an integral part of how Chinese people spend their holidays," said Chen. He expects the May Day break to deliver continued solid growth at the box office.
As long as the story connects, any film, big or small, local or imported, can win over audiences, said Dong Wenxin, a film industry observer and theater manager, calling China an opportunity-rich market.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“International Iterations news portal”。http://www.videocameralive.com/content-69a399917.html
Related articles
The 4 officers killed in North Carolina were tough but kind and loved their jobs, friends say
entertainmentCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The four officers killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday in the deadl ...
Read moreMan almost loses leg to sepsis after cut to back of head with barber’s clippers
entertainmentBy Kirsty Wynn of ...
Read moreTwo US Navy sailors arrested on charges tied to national security and China
entertainmentYour web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here ...
Read more
Popular articles
- Miriam: Death Of A Reality Star review
- China is drilling some of the deepest holes in hunt for natural resources
- VOX POPULI: Like Nobita in ‘Doraemon,’ we should never give up on ourselves
- LAUSD investigating inappropriate photos being shared amongst students at Fairfax High School
- Mom shopping in Target stunned by small print on Clorox wipes
- Chinese hackers breached US ambassador to China's email account
Latest articles
Pennsylvania moves to join states that punish stalkers who use Bluetooth tracking devices
VOX POPULI: The war in Ukraine enters its 3rd year with no end in sight
Thousands of Russians join Navalny
Man almost loses leg to sepsis after cut to back of head with barber’s clippers
Swiatek rallies against Haddad Maia to reach Madrid Open semis
VOX POPULI: Young texters have rendered punctuation marks obsolete
LINKS
- Barry Keoghan sports a Burberry bandana on his face as he playfully poses with Stormzy at Coachella
- The Dallas Stars can still score. They are now deeper and more balanced going into the NHL playoffs
- Mets rally in 7th and score the go
- Voting technology company settles lawsuit against far
- New leader of Jesse Jackson's civil rights organization steps down just months on the job
- Cowboys add veteran Royce Freeman, but running back remains a position of need in the draft
- Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark join Queen Margrethe to celebrate her 84th birthday
- Urshela puts Detroit ahead in the 8th, Tigers hold on for 4
- Ryan Weathers strikes out a career
- People with disabilities sue in Wisconsin over lack of electronic absentee ballots