(WSJ) A Chinese action film that taps into nationalist fervor has become the highest-grossing movie ever in China, showing that the box office here can still pack a punch following last year’s abrupt slowdown.
“Wolf Warrior 2”—about a former Chinese special-forces soldier who fights off rebels and mercenaries in a fictional African country—has taken in more than $720 million in the three weeks since its release July 27, according to data from Beijing-based film-research firm EntGroup.
That shatters the $508 million record set last year by “The Mermaid,” a co-production between China and Hong Kong.
“You can expect China’s box office to hold its own this year,” said David Hancock, director of film and cinema analysis at IHS Technology.
Mr. Hancock said Hollywood shouldn’t be concerned that domestic films now account for the two top-grossing productions in China “because it shows that people are still going to the cinema.”
China’s box-office revenue had been growing exponentially—averaging 34% growth between 2011 and 2015—making it an appealing market for Hollywood.
In the U.S., box-office revenue is down about 5% compared with the same period last year, sending shares of major exhibitors lower this year. The highest-grossing hit so far this year was Disney ’s “Beauty and the Beast,” which earned about $504 million domestically during its theatrical run.
“Wolf Warrior 2,” a sequel to 2015’s “Wolf Warriors,” was helped by its release during the prime summer movie-going season, when the Chinese government keeps imported films out of theaters to give a boost to domestic productions. The original, which did about $82 million, was released in April 2015 and led the box office for one week before “Furious 7” hit Chinese theaters.
Analysts say the film’s intensely jingoist theme is resonating with Chinese audiences. China’s navy is prominently featured, and its military is portrayed as a peacekeeping force that works with the United Nations to help evacuate refugees, aid workers and Chinese factory workers from a fictional war-torn region.
The last shot of the film displays a Chinese passport with the message: “Citizens of the People’s Republic of China: When you encounter dangers overseas, don’t give up! Please remember, behind you, there is a strong nation!”
“While China used to have an inferiority complex about its place in the world, the country has felt more emboldened now and that has translated into pride about not only its economic power but its military capacity,” said Rob Cain, a Los Angeles-based film producer and consultant to Hollywood studios.
The record box-office performance of “Wolf Warrior 2” “definitely gave the domestic industry a shot in the arm,” said Jonathan Papish, an analyst at China Film Insider. Domestic films have now surpassed overseas films in revenue this year, he added.
One Hollywood studio executive based in Asia said the film was likely performing especially well in smaller cities where people generally don’t pay to see Hollywood imports.
Despite the success of “Wolf Warrior 2,” analysts say China still has a way to go before its box office can support itself without help from foreign films.
“Chinese moviegoers shun most large releases and producers need to stop chasing trends and raise the quality of their films on all levels,” Mr. Papish said. “Not until there is robust performance across the industry—not just with blockbusters, but also mid-budget, indie and fringe genre films—will the Chinese film industry actually be deemed ‘healthy.’”
Source: Wall Street Journal by Wayne Ma