China's Summer Box Office Exceeds 5 Billion Yuan

China's 2022 summer box office has surpassed 5 billion yuan (approximately 697 million USD) as of Sunday, according to box office tracker Maoyan. The summer box office includes presales and marks a significant milestone for the Chinese film industry.

China's film industry has achieved a remarkable milestone this summer, with the box office surpassing 5 billion yuan (approximately 697 million USD) as of Sunday, according to box office tracker Maoyan. This significant figure marks a substantial increase from previous years and highlights the robust performance of the Chinese film market.

The summer box office, which includes presales, has seen a surge in local-language titles leading the way. "The Lychee Road," a period drama distributed by Aimmedia Pictures, opened in first place over the July 18–20 weekend, earning RMB170.3 million ($23.7 million) [1]. Directed by Dong Chengpeng and scripted by Si’ao Dai and Yuyue Shen, the film follows petty official Li Shande's mission to deliver fresh lychees across 5,000 miles during the Tang Dynasty.

Animated fantasy sequel "The Legend of Hei 2" (Qianwanjian Media) took second place with $14.4 million. The film is co-directed and co-written by MTJJ (Ping Zhang) and Gu Jie, following Luo Xiaohei, a cat spirit who faces renewed conflicts at the Spirit Hall [1].

Debuting in third place, Dachong Media’s "You Are the Best" earned $7.6 million over the weekend. Directed by and starring Jiang Wen alongside Ma Li, the film follows a young man's journey to pursue his musical dream [1].

Light Chaser Animation’s "Curious Tales of a Temple" ranked fourth with $7.3 million for the frame. The animated anthology, based on Pu Songling’s classic "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio," features six interlinked ghost stories tied to the mysterious Lanruo Temple [1].

Rounding out the top five, Brad Pitt’s "F1: The Movie," from Apple Original Films and Warner Bros., added $5.1 million, bringing its running total to $45.1 million [1].

The weekend box office totalled $76.1 million, up from last week’s $51.3 million, lifting the 2022 running total to $4.35 billion, a 15.5% gain over the same period in 2021 [1].

In the United States, Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" has also been making waves. The film opened with a strong performance, earning $57 million from 4,125 theaters across Friday and preview screenings [2]. With its retro-futuristic reboot, the film has been well-received by critics and audiences alike.

These developments underscore the global appeal and financial prowess of the Chinese film industry and Marvel’s continued dominance in the superhero genre. As the summer season progresses, both markets are expected to continue their impressive performances.

References:
[1] https://www.aol.com/china-box-office-lychee-road-070738653.html
[2] https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr2=p:fp,m:tn,ct:all,kt:org,pg:1,stl:txt,b:&fr=fp-tts&p=Fantastic+Four+Box+Office