Lunar New Year Box Office in China Approaches $950 Million With ‘The Battle at Lake Changjin II’ Dominant
variety.comPatrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefPatriotic blockbuster “The Battle at Lake Changjin II” earned just short of $400 million over the Chinese New Year holidays at a mainland China box office that weighed in at some $950 million.Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway showed “Lake Changjin II” earning $152 million over the Friday to Sunday weekend, comfortably ahead of comedy “Too Cool to Kill” which took $111 million over the same three days.
In third place over the weekend was drama “Nice View” with $45.4 million and animation “Boonie Bears: Back to Earth” with $38.8.
The Zhang Yimou- and Zhang Mo-directed “Snipers” was fifth over the weekend with $22.7 million.Data from other sources show that the first three days of the six-day holiday period – Tuesday to Sunday – were the strongest, indicating that the cumulative scores at the end of Sunday are more important. “Lake Changjin II” completed its first six days in Chinese theaters with $395 million, according to Artisan Gateway. “Too Cool to Kill” earned $217 million ahead of “Nice View” with $104 million, “Boonie Bears” with $88.8 million and “Sniper” with $41.1 million.
Another prominent title, Han Han’s motorbike adventure “Only Fools Rush In” had a strong opening day with $36 million, but it faded rapidly.
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