Your current location:HOME >style >China Focus: Record Qingming holiday box office heats up for May Day moviegoing frenzy 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 11:33:30 Source: Internet compilationEdit:style
by 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. ■
The Latest2024-05-21 11:16
Analysis: Larson enters conversation with Verstappen as best drivers in the world2024-05-21 10:56
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature2024-05-21 10:40
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash2024-05-21 10:28
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo2024-05-21 09:56
Cruise worker 'murders newborn son on board ship': Shocked co2024-05-21 09:56
I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £4002024-05-21 09:40
Ohio judge to rule Monday on whether the state’s abortion ban stands2024-05-21 09:39
Trump accepts a VP debate but wants it on Fox News. Harris has already said yes to CBS2024-05-21 09:28
Cruise worker 'murders newborn son on board ship': Shocked co2024-05-21 09:04
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI2024-05-21 10:57
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership2024-05-21 10:53
‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad2024-05-21 10:12
Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age2024-05-21 10:08
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs2024-05-21 09:54
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky2024-05-21 09:43
Everybody may love Raymond, but Ray Romano loves Peter Boyle2024-05-21 09:39
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics2024-05-21 09:28
Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed2024-05-21 09:24
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry2024-05-21 09:02