Hollywood will be happy to learn that the annual mid-summer blackout for foreign films in China is coming to an end.
On Tuesday, four Hollywood tentpoles were given the OK to open in China: Terminator: Genisys, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Minions and Pixels, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. Genisys is slotted for Aug. 23, followed by Rogue Nation on Sept. 8. Minions and Pixels are scheduled to go Sept. 13 and Sept. 15, respectively.
For a month or two every summer, Chinese movies get sole billing in the world's second-largest moviegoing market. This year, the blackout began June 19, meaning the last Hollywood tentpole to play there was Jurassic World.
A China release is key for Terminator: Genisys. The $155 million reboot, from Skydance Productions and Paramount, has done less business than expected in the U.S., grossing $80.3 million to date. It has fared better overseas with $196.8 million, but needs a strong run at the Chinese box office. Genisys' global total is $278.1 million; the hope is that it ultimately earns north of $400 million worldwide.
Prior to the blackout, Hollywood was enjoying a powerful run in China this year, with Furious 7, Avengers: Age of Ultron and now Jurassic World earning enormous sums.
Inside Out and Fantastic Four are also expected to get release dates.
Blackout periods for foreign films happen several times a year. In 2014, of the $4.76 billion earned at the box office in China, homegrown films accounted for 54.5 percent of the total, largely due to the ban on foreign films.