In mainland China, the cinema box office experienced a significant decline over the weekend, marking its lowest revenue in over 12 months. The total earnings amounted to just $21 million, indicating a lack of audience turnout. Despite this, the top titles at the box office remained largely unchanged, with the fish out of water comedy film 'Jonny Keep Walking' maintaining its position at the top for the sixth consecutive weekend.
'Jonny Keep Walking' tells the story of a man from the countryside who struggles to adapt to a corporate job in a bustling city. The film earned an impressive $8.1 million (RMB57.3 million) over the weekend, contributing to its cumulative total of $171 million (RMB1.21 billion) since its release on December 29th.
Following closely behind was the Hong Kong-made action comedy 'Rob N Roll,' featuring popular actors Aaron Kwok, Richie Jen, and Lam Ka-tung. Although it held onto second place, its revenue was relatively modest at $2.9 million (RMB20.5 million). Since its release on January 19th, the film has accumulated a total of $29.6 million.
Taking the third spot was another Hong Kong production, 'The Goldfinger,' which also earned $2.9 million. Its accumulated revenue since December 30th now stands at $76.9 million. In fourth place, 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' generated $1 million (RMB7.2 million) over the weekend, adding to its cumulative total of $63.8 million since its release on December 20th. Finally, 'Follow Bear for Adventure' remained in fifth place, earning $950,000 (RMB6.8 million) and reaching a cumulative total of $14.1 million.
These figures reflect a general downward trend in China's box office revenue since the country eased its strict anti-COVID measures in December 2022. The lack of new releases has contributed to the decline, but the situation is expected to change with the upcoming Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival). A wave of new titles is set to hit the screens, potentially revitalizing the box office.
According to Artisan Gateway, a consultancy firm, the total box office revenue for the year so far stands at $391 million. As the industry gears up for the festive season, it anticipates a surge in audience attendance and improved financial performance.
Overall, while the recent weekend's box office revenue in mainland China may have been disappointing, the industry remains hopeful for a rejuvenation in the coming weeks. With a variety of new releases in time for the Chinese New Year celebrations, the box office has the potential to bounce back and provide a boost to the film industry.
