Current location:entertainment >>
China Focus: Record Qingming holiday box office heats up for May Day moviegoing frenzy
entertainment445People have gathered around
Introductionby Xinhua writer Zhang YunlongBEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The robust Qingming Festival holiday box ...
by Xinhua writer Zhang Yunlong
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.“Culture Compass news portal”。http://mauritius.downmusic.org/html-3c099956.html
Related articles
Charlotte's Kahlina, Galaxy's Micovic untouchable in scoreless draw
entertainmentCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina finished with five saves for his fourt ...
Read moreJudge says South Carolina can enforce 6
entertainmentCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A state judge has ruled that South Carolina can continue to enforce a ban on n ...
Read moreHezbollah leader vows continuous conflict with Israel to support Gaza
entertainmentHezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah said on Monday that his group will continue its battle against the ...
Read more
Popular articles
- FIFA vote awards Brazil 2027 Women's World Cup
- Canadian police link 4 women killed in the 1970s to dead American serial sex offender
- Lakota student's feather plume cut off cap during high school commencement
- Xi holds talks with Putin
- PGA Championship is delayed by fog at Valhalla
- Security footage appears to show that Alaska man did not raise gun before being killed by police
Latest articles
Anne Robinson reveals she's dating Queen Camilla's ex
A list of pro golfers to be arrested during a tournament
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner misses 4th straight game with left hamstring issue
Xi, Putin attend opening ceremony of China
British father
Nicola Coughlan wows in a scarlet leather dress and corset as she reunites with Bridgerton co
LINKS
- Lady Victoria Hervey dons chic monochrome ensemble as she visits an art exhibition in London
- Kylie Jenner is NOT pregnant with Timothee Chalamet's child and the pair are 'still dating'
- South Korean police raid office of incoming head of doctors' group over protracted strikes
- Enzo Fernandez has undergone surgery and will miss the rest of Chelsea's season
- Anne Hathaway's role in The Idea of You was nearly played by ANOTHER Hollywood A
- Corals bred in a zoo have joined Europe's largest reef. This is offering scientists hope
- Stock market today: Asian benchmarks mostly climb despite worries about US economy
- How major US stock indexes fared Thursday, 4/25/2024
- Fleeing suspect fatally shot during gunfire exchange with police in northwest Indiana
- Paris crowns a new king of the crusty baguette in its annual bread