‘Expendables 4’ narrowly took top place at the mainland China box office on a quiet weekend preceding the National Day holiday season at the end of the month. “A Haunting in Venice” opened outside the top five.<\/p>\n
Data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway shows “Expendables 4” earning $10.9 million (RMB78.6 million) over its debut weekend. The latest instalment in the “Expendables” franchise lacks an above-the title Chinese star, but includes Jason Statham, who is also to be seen in China-U.S. co-production “Meg 2: The Trench.”<\/p>\n
The new release title was fractionally ahead of Chinese crime thriller “Dust to Dust,” which picked up $10.6 million (RMB76.2 million) in its second week of release. “Dust” breathed in a 52% week-on-week decline, but advanced its total to $44.2 million after ten days on release.<\/p>\n
“Oppenheimer” played on in third place with $4.3 million in its third week in China. After 17 days on release, it has accumulated $54.3 million in the Middle Kingdom.<\/p>\n
“No More Bets,” the biggest film of the summer season, faded to $4.0 million and fourth place. It has a cumulative total of $527 million since releasing on Aug. 8.<\/p>\n
New release, “Tainted Love,” earned $3.2 million in fifth place over three days. Starring Zhou Dongyu, the film is a thriller about online scammers who target women in particular. Online scamming is also the subject matter of “No More Bets.”<\/p>\n
Artisan Gateway does not report a figure for Disney’s Kenneth Branagh-directed Agatha Christie adaptation, “A Haunting in Venice.” Local Chinese data providers report that it earned $2.6 million over its opening three days.<\/p>\n
The nationwide box office aggregate for the latest Friday-Sunday weekend was $42.1 million, blow average in this recovery year. But a mid-September lull fits a pattern seen in normal, pre-COVID years and reflects dearth of big releases ahead of the National Day holiday season. A string of larger Chinese titles and local franchise films are targeting release on Sept. 28, ahead of the holidays which officially kick off on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n