While Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes has had a favorable opening in the US, its overseas appeal in China isn’t quite as strong. This marks a continuing lack of interest in American-based franchise films in China.
The film opened in third place this weekend, losing out to two holdover titles. It took in only $4.6 million across its opening stint, and ticketing app Maoyan estimates the film to only make $7 million by the end of its run.
Coming out eight years after the original stretch of films ended, each Hunger Games film pulled in far more at the box office than the new prequel is on track to make. The Hunger Games took in $27 million, Catching Fire took $28 million, Mockingjay Part 1 had $36.5 million, and Mockingjay Part 2 brought in $21.5 million.
Despite the new Hunger Games floundering in the market, other US-based franchise films have also seen a share of trouble in the China box office. The Marvels opened to an all-time MCU low of $11.5 million upon its first weekend in China and fell even further this weekend, only taking in $1.4 million. According to Hollywood Reporter, Maoyan estimates the film will top off at just $15 million.
Earlier this year, other big franchise films failed to live up to their predecessors. Fast X only brought in $140 million overall, and Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts took $92 million. Both are modest grosses but very low compared to the films that came before, which, as the Hollywood Reporter states, indicates a growth of franchises within China.
Chinese thriller Who’s The Suspect took home the gold in the Chinese box office last weekend, adding $10.6 million to its gross. Alibaba drama Be My Family earned $4.8 million, putting it in second place this weekend.
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