Cinemas in Hong Kong enjoyed a 33% growth in box office over the summer months of July and August. The boom comes on top of a strong first half.
Data from the Motion Picture Industry Association / Hong Kong Box Office Limited showed gross revenues of HK$414 million (US$53.4 million), compared with HK$312 million (US$40.3 million) in the same two months of last year.
The chart is dominated by Hollywood films and stands in sharp contrast to the box office in China, where only Chinese-language films were allowed mainstream release during an annual “blackout period.”
On top were “Minions” (with HK$78.3 million, US$10.1 million), ahead of “Inside Out” (with HK$61.9 million) and “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” (with HK$51.2 million).
"Jurassic World” came in only ninth place in the July-August chart, having been released in June. It is nevertheless the year’s top film to date with HK$96.2 million (US$12.4 million) and ranks as the seventh biggest grosser of all time in the Special Administrative Region.
"Monster Hunt,” the biggest Chinese film of all time across the border, and produced by Hong Kong’s Edko Films, took tenth spot with HK$10.3 million.
It fared better than other Hong Kong productions, including “Wild City” and “To the Fore,” most of which underperformed.
If Hong Kong producers are disappointed, exhibitors and distributors may be faring better. The July-August surge came on top of a first six months where box office was up by 14% at HK$985 million. That points to growth of 19% for the first eight months of the year.