Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” conjured up a winning $44.5 million opening weekend in China, as it enjoyed a day-and-date release coordinated with its outing in North America.
"Strange” topped the Chinese chart on each of its three days of release, according to data from local tracking service Ent Group. It started with a $12.0 million Friday, peaked at $17.7 million on Saturday and declined modestly on Sunday to $14.2 million.
On each date “Strange” enjoyed over 80,000 screenings, or about 40% of available screening times. But data from CBO shows its gross accounting for 69% of total box office revenues from the China market on both Friday and Saturday.
The weekend total figures for “Strange” (which includes a sliver of previews) are more modest compared to the $150 million opening weekend enjoyed by “Avengers: Age of Ultron” or the $93.6 million taken by “Captain America: Civil War.” But they cement Disney’s position as the leading foreign supplier of movies to China this year (local distribution of revenue sharing titles is handled by one of two state-owned enterprises.)
Disney’s earlier hits this year include “Zootopia” on $236 million, “Captain America: Civil War” with $190 million, “The Jungle Book” on $150 million, and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” with $124 million from a delayed January release.
"Strange” was a record breaker, however, for IMAX in China. Playing 336 IMAX screens it earned $6.3 million for the firm’s biggest November three day opening. IMAX screens are present at 17 of the film’s top 20 locations in China.
Chinese thriller “Hide And Seek” also released on Friday, playing over 30,000 screenings per day. Over the weekend it earned $5.87 million for second place.
Local comedy “Mr Donkey” placed third with a weekend score of $4.51 million. After ten days in theaters it has a cumulative score of $19.9 million.
Japanese cartoon “Crayon Shin-chan: Fast Asleep! Dreaming World Big Assault!” was released on Friday. Improved performances on Saturday and Sunday gave it $2.56 million from three days, for fourth place.
New release Chinese drama “Someone to Talk to” claimed fifth place with $1.77 million. “Operation Mekong” added $1.63 million for sixth place. After 38 days in cinemas it has amassed a cumulative of $173 million.
"Trolls” added $1.41 million in its second weekend, for a ten day total of $6.96 million. That was narrowly better than “Inferno” which has largely burned out already. It earned $1.37 million for a cumulative of only $19.1 million after 10 days. “The Mechanic: Resurrection” added $1.24 million for $49.3 million after 17 days. Korean-Chinese remake “Making Family” had a quiet opening, making only $820,000 for tenth place.