The Chinese box office is about to get very crowded. Eight new titles will open this week with their sights set on stealing away the #1 spot from a very strong "The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies".
Universal’s "Unbroken" will hit the market on January 30. Director Angelina Jolie’s World War II drama has earned $28 million overseas since debuting in North America on Christmas Day—a modest sum that could definitely use a boost from China. Jolie’s star power will likely help: "Maleficent" posted a respectable $47.7 million in China last summer.
"Running Man" shows the most promise out of all of this week’s homegrown efforts. The film is a theatrical adaptation of a popular television show by Zhejiang TV. "Running Man" stars Angelababy and Chen He, who both appeared in ‘Love on the Cloud’, a successful Chinese rom-com that has earned $45 million.
Two new Chinese animated films are set to open as well: "Boonie Bears: Mystical Winter" and "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf – Amazing Pleasant Goat". Homegrown animated films have had a tough time performing as well as Hollywood’s efforts, and we don’t expect that to change with these two films.
Phil Contrino, Vice President/Chief Analyst of Boxoffice.com contributed to this article.
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