China’s box office exceeds $620m in 2.5 days of Spring Festival holidays; total volume expected to surpass $1.08b

[TaiShang]

China’s movie sector ushers in its arguably best peak season during this Chinese New Year holidays, with the national box office exceeding 4 billion yuan ($620 million) in two and a half days and analysts forecast the total volume during the week-long holiday may surpass 7 billion yuan.

According to Chinese ticket platform Maoyan, Chinese cinemas have raked in more than 4 billion yuan by Sunday noon – the third day of the Year of the Ox. It’s also the third day in a row that the country’s box office exceeded 1 billion yuan, according to the platform.

The big holiday is usually a peak season for Chinese cinema screens. The 2021 Chinese New Year holidays – against the background of encouraging people to stay put for the holidays as well as the country’s effective control of the outbreak – is expected to be a golden opportunity for the constrained movie sector.

Among the most popular movies, the box office for Detective Chinatown 3 has exceeded 2.3 billion yuan by Sunday noon, while that for Hi, Mom exceeded 900 million yuan, according to Maoyan.

It’s worth noting that the data came as cinemas across the country imposed strict measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, for example, a cap on viewers.

Even in large cities like Beijing, which recently lowered the theater occupancy rate from 75 percent to 50 percent due to stricter protection requirements, the movie market continues to boom.

In Beijing, Saturday’s all tickets for Detective Chinatown 3 and Hi, Mom in several business districts including Sanlitun were almost sold out by Saturday noon, and tickets are also booked out for Sunday.

Amid hot market demand, prices for popular movies also saw a jump. For example, the price of a ticket for Detective Chinatown 3 at a Wanda cinema in Chaoyang district, Beijing is now priced starting from 95.9 yuan, whereas it was priced starting from 40 yuan since February 18.

The first moviegoing peak season following heavy losses seen by many domestic movie companies, this Spring Festival holidays is of great importance to the industry’s recovery and also offers a vivid testament to the country’s steady recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Optimistically, China’s Spring Festival box office is projected to exceed 7.05 billion yuan ($1.08 billion), up 28.1 percent compared with the same period in 2019, prior to the battering of the pandemic, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing Chinese investment bank China International Capital Corp.

China’s box office exceeds $620m in 2.5 days of Spring Festival holidays; total volume expected to surpass $1.08b - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

 

[shi12jun]

 

[sinait]

China’s movie sector ushers in its arguably best peak season during this Chinese New Year holidays, with the national box office exceeding 4 billion yuan ($620 million) in two and a half days and analysts forecast the total volume during the week-long holiday may surpass 7 billion yuan.

According to Chinese ticket platform Maoyan, Chinese cinemas have raked in more than 4 billion yuan by Sunday noon – the third day of the Year of the Ox. It’s also the third day in a row that the country’s box office exceeded 1 billion yuan, according to the platform.

The big holiday is usually a peak season for Chinese cinema screens. The 2021 Chinese New Year holidays – against the background of encouraging people to stay put for the holidays as well as the country’s effective control of the outbreak – is expected to be a golden opportunity for the constrained movie sector.

Among the most popular movies, the box office for Detective Chinatown 3 has exceeded 2.3 billion yuan by Sunday noon, while that for Hi, Mom exceeded 900 million yuan, according to Maoyan.

It’s worth noting that the data came as cinemas across the country imposed strict measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, for example, a cap on viewers.

Even in large cities like Beijing, which recently lowered the theater occupancy rate from 75 percent to 50 percent due to stricter protection requirements, the movie market continues to boom.

In Beijing, Saturday’s all tickets for Detective Chinatown 3 and Hi, Mom in several business districts including Sanlitun were almost sold out by Saturday noon, and tickets are also booked out for Sunday.

Amid hot market demand, prices for popular movies also saw a jump. For example, the price of a ticket for Detective Chinatown 3 at a Wanda cinema in Chaoyang district, Beijing is now priced starting from 95.9 yuan, whereas it was priced starting from 40 yuan since February 18.

The first moviegoing peak season following heavy losses seen by many domestic movie companies, this Spring Festival holidays is of great importance to the industry’s recovery and also offers a vivid testament to the country’s steady recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Optimistically, China’s Spring Festival box office is projected to exceed 7.05 billion yuan ($1.08 billion), up 28.1 percent compared with the same period in 2019, prior to the battering of the pandemic, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing Chinese investment bank China International Capital Corp.

China’s box office exceeds $620m in 2.5 days of Spring Festival holidays; total volume expected to surpass $1.08b - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

Well Done China.
China need to RESTRICT the distribution of Hollywood and Bollywood movies.
.

 

[ILC]

I want to watch wolf warrior 3. Have they started filming it?

 

[Mista]

Doesn't seem to have any interesting movie this CNY. Streamed Netflix with my family this year instead lol.

 

[charene514]

So even a movie revenue is measured in USD in china. And I was almost convinced that yuan is gonna take over.

 

[TaiShang]

China's box office sales set new record, as Spring Festival sales soar

news.cgtn.com

China's box office set a new record, generating over 3.8 billion yuan ($588 million), including pre-sales, in the first three days of the Spring Festival holiday.

People flocked to cinemas as many avoided travel as advised this year to avoid possible COVID-19 cluster infections on long trips during the Spring Festival travel rush. Strict health measures have been put in place in movie theaters to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmissions.

As expected, the long-awaited, "Detective Chinatown 3" has been leading China's box office since its debut on the first day of the Spring Festival.

It has set a new single-day record, raking in over one billion yuan on the first day.

"After watching the 'Detective Chinatown 3,' I finally understand why Director Chen Sicheng continuously pushed back its release date until now. It's worth waiting!" a fan told CGTN.
The comedy sequel is one of the seven new domestic titles hitting the theaters for the holiday.

Other frontrunners include time travel comedy "Hi, Mom!" and fantasy thriller "A Writer's Odyssey."

With authorities encouraging people to stay put during the holiday to curb the spread of the coronavirus, many are turning to movie theaters instead of taking part in the traditional activities, such as returning home.

"Due to the pandemic, the traditional temple fairs have been cancelled. So, why not go to the cinema, laugh or cry with the audience while watching the movies? It's also like a New Year ritual," said a Beijing resident to CGTN.

Despite the general containment of the recent COVID-19 resurgence, prevention and control measures are still in place to guarantee a safe holiday.

Cinemas in low-risk areas of the country are required to operate at 75 percent capacity, while Beijing has capped the maximum seating capacity of cinemas at 50 percent from February 11 to 17.

Many cinemas in Beijing have refunded pre-sale tickets in line with the restrictions. Those who enter cinemas should wear a face mask, have their temperature checked and show their health code. Alternate seats are kept empty for social distancing.

Instead of buying tickets at a ticket window, people can book tickets online and get their tickets printed at the self-service machines in the cinema to reduce direct contacts with others.

(Cover: People are seen watching a film at a cinema in Beijing, China, February 12, 2021. /CFP)