According to entFilmbase’s China film box office statistics, the mainland box office gross in the 10th week of 2013(Mar. 4-Mar. 10, 2013) totaled ￥270million (about $43 million), a 27% drop compared to last week and a 46% increase y-o-y. Moviegoers this week totaled 7.46 million.
After hauling in $9.99 million this week, Journey to the West has now reached the massive cume of $191.47 million, which is just short of breaking the domestic box office record of $201.34 million (previous champ: Lost in Thailand). Sitting in the second place, The Hobbit added another $8.3 million for a new total of $45.43 million. As a flat-fee imported flick, Upside Down took in $6.74 million through four days in release. This week, local films contributed 43% of the total box office revenue nationwide.
As of last Sunday (Mar. 10), the aggregate box office gross in Mainland China hit ￥4.21 billion, up 34% compared to the corresponding time frame in 2012. Among many movies released year-to-date, Lost in Thailand, CZ12 and Journey to the West have generated ￥2.05 billion in receipts, pushing the national total box office to a new high.
Although eleven films opened in the past seven days, the high number of films didn’t produce any boost in the Chinese film market. The daily box office didn't surpass ￥60 million in any one day during the whole week. After the overwhelming film consumption during the Chinese New Year movie season, moviegoers don't currently seem to have the same passion, at least not in March.
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons brought in ￥1.2 billion in just a month (Feb. 10-Mar. 10, 2013), establishing a new record for a domestic film’s single-month revenue. The potential all-time domestic box-office champ’s theatrical run has been extended to April, surely a move to help it gross past China’s current box office record holder. But challenges still exist, because two Hollywood blockbusters—A Good Day to Die Hard and Resident Evil: Retribution—are set to open next week and may take a big share of mainland ticket sales in the near future.
Upcoming films next week (Mar. 11-17): On Mar. 14, local productions include the comedy Scandals and the romantic flick Love Bank will be released, while imported flicks A Good Day to Die Hard and Taiwan-made Silent Code are set to open the same day. With Chinese actress Li Bingbing in a supporting role, the much anticipated Resident Evil: Retribution is scheduled for March 17, and will be screened completely in 3D format.
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