Chinese film ‘The Wandering Earth’ tops global box office

[haidian]

‘Wandering Earth’ Sci-Fi Film Earns $300 Million Chinese New Year Victory
FEBRUARY 10, 2019 11:48AM PT

China’s first large-scale sci-fi film, “Wandering Earth” came to dominate the box office over the Chinese New Year holidays – though it started from behind.

Over the full six days of the holiday, the picture earned $304 million. Some $187 million of that came over the Friday-Sunday period, making “Wandering Earth” far and away the top scoring film worldwide over the weekend.

In comparison, “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” earned $38.2 million in six international territories. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” topped the North American charts with $34.4 million.

Eight locally-made films opened in Middle Kingdom cinemas on Tuesday (Feb. 5), the first day of Chinese New Year. The initial leader was Ning Hao-directed comedy “Crazy Alien” with $60 million (RMB405 million,) according to data from tracking service, China Box Office. “Wandering Earth” placed only fourth with $27.8 million (RMB188,) behind “Pegasus” and “New King of Comedy.”

The following day, “Crazy Alien” kept the lead, but with a score diminished to $42.3 million (RMB284 million). “Wandering Earth” increased its score, to $38.2 million (RMB257 million).


On Thursday, “Wandering Earth” snatched first place and did not relinquish it. Its daily scores improved in each session until Saturday, when it took $61.6 million.

Giant screen operator, Imax played three Chinese films on its 604 commercial screens in the Middle Kingdom, and adjusted its schedules over the period as audience preferences became easier to read.

“Imax’s record performance during this year’s Chinese New Year is proof that demand for Imax’s premium entertainment experience is alive and well in China,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO, Imax, in an emailed statement. “’Wandering Earth’ is the first blockbuster sci-fi film to be made in China. As China makes more high quality, blockbuster content, we believe audiences will continue to seek out the Imax experience.”

Over the full six-day period, “Crazy Alien” scored $215 million for second place. “Pegasus,” directed by celebrity blogger and race driver Han Han, earned $156 million.

“New King of Comedy,” a remake of Stephen Chow 1989 title, fell well short of the RMB1 billion ($148 million) milestone that these days marks a blockbuster in China. It earned only $78.6 million (RMB531 million) for fourth place, ahead of animation franchise title “Boonie Bears: Blast Into the Past” which earned $69 million (RMB466 million).

Jackie Chan-starring “Knight of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang” faded quickly, as “Wandering Earth” prevailed. “Knight” earned only $19.1 million ($129 million) over six days. Still, that was marginally better than much hyped animation “Peppa Pig,” which despite being timed for the new Chinese Year of the Pig, earned only $16.6 million (RMB112 million).

“Integrity” brought up the rear, earning $14.1 million (RMB95 million) over six days. No Hollywood titles received new releases during the period and none broke through to figure in the chart.

https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/...-million-chinese-new-year-victory-1203134882/

 

[haidian]

This blockbuster Sci-fi movie is aligned with China's space ambition

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

Descriptions of the production by the story writer and executive producer 刘慈欣 Liu Cixin; Film director 郭帆 Guo Fan (Frant Gwo); the Art Director, 郜昂 Gao Ang; the lead and supporting man and woman actors:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2974534/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1
The novel was written by Liu, a Hugo Prize (for Sci-Fi novelists) winner, 20 years ago.
10,000 props. 3,000 scene and story sketches; movie set area totalling 100,000 sq M
.... all in this film promotion clip:

Full Cast & Crew:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7605074/fullcredits

This is described as the dawn of Chinese Sci-Fi Film productionS, CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

I just watched the trailers and being sci-fi movies fan, the trailer looks awesome. Can't wait to get a dubbed copy.

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

I just watched the trailers and being sci-fi movies fan, the trailer looks awesome. Can't wait to get a dubbed copy.

Thanks! I hope it will be available to our Pakistani friends soon.
The movie has English Subtitle. Welcome to the Movie, of course!

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

Thanks! I hope it will be available to our Pakistani friends soon.
The movie has English Subtitle. Welcome to the Movie, of course!

Hmmm but subtitles makes u lost atleast half of the movie as you keep yourself reading the subtitles all the time rather than watching the facial expressions of the actors and noting minute background scenes. I mean the ambiance of watching a movie, while reading subtitles for language, is just not there. Hopefully there will be english/urdu/hindi dubbed version of the movie soon especially if it is getting international attention. Else, english subtitles will do the job in the end

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

Hmmm but subtitles makes u lost atleast half of the movie as you keep yourself reading the subtitles all the time rather than watching the facial expressions of the actors and noting minute background scenes. I mean the ambiance of watching a movie, while reading subtitles for language, is just not there. Hopefully there will be english/urdu/hindi dubbed version of the movie soon especially if it is getting international attention. Else, english subtitles will do that job in the end

That's true.

 

[Sabretooth]

Just read the summary of the storyline. Looks interesting. A treat for Sci-Fi buffs indeed!

 

[haidian]

Chinese film ‘The Wandering Earth’ tops global box office
Published 2 hours ago on 11 February 2019

LOS ANGELES, Feb 11 — Chinese cinema rides high at the global box office this week with two science-fiction films — The Wandering Earth and Crazy Alien — taking first and second place respectively. They are followed by The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.

Frant Gwo’s science-fiction movie, The Wandering Earth jumps straight in to number one at the global box office, grossing over US$172 million (RM699.9 million) worldwide. The film’s success is partly due to its release in China, February 5, also marking Chinese New Year 2019.

Also proving popular with Chinese audiences, Crazy Alien grossed just over US$77 million during its opening weekend. The movie does not yet have a US release date.

The second big-screen Lego adventure, the The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, sits in third at the worldwide box office.

The animated picture directed by Mike Mitchell, grossed over US$53 million during its first weekend in theaters. The first Lego movie, released in 2014, grossed over US$469 million worldwide.

Last week’s box-office leader, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World drops to fifth place, nevertheless adding just over US$38 million to its global grosses.

Global box office top 10:

1. The Wandering Earth — US$172.7m

2. Crazy Alien — US$77.7m

3. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part — US$53.1m

4. Pegasus — US$52.4m

5. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World — US$38.2m

6. Alita: Battle Angel — US$32m

7. Boonie Bears: Blast Into The Past — US$27.8m

8. What Men Want — US$19m

9. Extreme Job — US$18.2m

10. Green Book — US$15m— AFP-Relaxnews

https://www.malaymail.com/news/show...andering-earth-tops-global-box-office/1721994

 

[beijingwalker]

I thought Hollywood would be the last place that China would challenge, it's happening sooner than I thought...

 

[beijingwalker]

China challenges Hollywood with own sci-fi blockbuster
Wandering Earth on track to be one of highest-grossing films in country’s history

China has entered the cinematic space race. Wandering Earth, the country’s first blockbuster sci-fi film, is on track to be one of the highest-grossing films in China’s history.

The film has brought in more than 2bn yuan (£232m) in the six days since its release on 5 February, lunar new year. So far, it is the highest-grossing film released over the holiday season, a peak time for the Chinese box office.

Set in the distant future, the governments of Earth, confronted with annihilation from an unstable sun, have strapped thrusters on to the planet, ejecting it out into the universe in search of a new home. But as the Earth approaches Jupiter, a malfunction in the system puts it on course to crash into the planet.

Described as a cross between Armageddon and 2001: A Space Odyssey, the film is seen by some as the dawn of Chinese sci-fi – a genre that has long been dominated by Hollywood. Several other Chinese-made sci-fi films are due to debut this year, including Shanghai Fortress, about an alien invasion, and Pathfinder, which follows a spaceship that has crashed on a deserted planet.

Frant Gwo, the director of Wandering Earth, told the government web portal China.org.cn: “2019 could be remembered as year zero of Chinese science-fiction blockbusters. It is not just about one successful movie but about the emergence of multiple films.”

China is already home to a thriving science and speculative fiction literary scene. Wandering Earth is based on the work of Liu Cixin, the author of the Three-Body Problem series and the first Chinese author to win a Hugo award,

“The Wandering Earth fills the gap in Chinese science fiction movies. It means that China’s science fiction movies have officially set sail,” one fan of the film wrote on the review site Douban.

China’s film market is expected to overtake the US as the world’s largest by 2022. In the first quarter of last year, the Chinese market surpassed that of the US, with films such as Ready Player One and Pacific Rim enjoying bigger box office debuts in China than the US.

Yet, Chinese studios have not invested in sci-fi films. According to Liu, the author of the novel Wandering Earth, the main difference between Chinese and US audiences is trust.

“Building trust between producers, investors and the audience is the biggest challenge here,” he told the state broadcaster CCTV. “Not so many people have faith in a Chinese sci-fi movie,” he said.

Indeed, Wandering Earth was slow to get off the ground in the first few days of its release, with many sceptical of a Chinese-made sci-fi film. As Wandering Earth received positive reviews for its special effects, pacing and arresting views of the Earth as seen from space, it quickly gained momentum.

For Chinese moviegoers, accustomed to sci-fi films made by US studios, Chinese elements such as references to spring festival, or Chinese new year, mahjong and road signs common in China (anquan diyitiao, “safety number one”) were a welcome change.

Some noted that unlike many Chinese blockbusters, Wandering Earth dials back on the patriotism. Rescue teams from around the world scramble to get the thrusters back up and running. A Russian soldier sacrifices his life to help a Chinese colleague.

“This is not a patriotic film but a film about humans saving themselves,” one reviewer said.

Critics of the film have pointed out plot holes, cloying sentimentality and one-dimensional female characters – traits Wandering Earth shares with its Hollywood peers.

In response to plot criticisms about the necessity of ejecting Earth from the solar system, Liu said: “Of course we don’t need to escape soon … That’s why it’s a movie instead of a [real-life] crisis.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/11/china-first-blockbuster-sci-fi-film-wandering-earth

 

[Solomon2]

I thought Hollywood would be the last place that China would challenge, it's happening sooner than I thought...

Hollywood going downhill in a political morass. Chinese and Japanese movies interest me more lately. Main problem is limited/untimely distribution in theaters near me.

Hmmm but subtitles makes u lost atleast half of the movie as you keep yourself reading the subtitles all the time rather than watching the facial expressions of the actors and noting minute background scenes. I mean the ambiance of watching a movie, while reading subtitles for language, is just not there. Hopefully there will be english/urdu/hindi dubbed version of the movie soon especially if it is getting international attention. Else, english subtitles will do the job in the end

You're just spoiled. Practice! Learn to read the subtitles with one part of your mind while enjoying facial expressions etc. with another.

 

[oprih]

Nice, I really like the plot of the movie, so interesting and unusual.

 

[khanmubashir]

It would take a few billions of years for our sun to become red giant
And even than we don't need to move planet to new solar sys for an interstellar voyage of several centuries as the movie shows just few million km further away from red giant would suffice to further get a couple of billion years for earth

 

[beijingwalker]

It would take a few billions of years for our sun to become red giant
And even than we don't need to move planet to new solar sys for an interstellar voyage of several centuries as the movie shows just few million km further away from red giant would suffice to further get a couple of billion years for earth

A movie can make them happen the next day. lol