New | Behind Fast & Furious 8: How Hollywood flops become hits in China
A random tour around Chinese cinemas these days gives anyone a clue of Chinese movie goers’ sensibilities, and how Hollywood franchises built upon muscle cars and fictional orcs are igniting the world’s most populous nation.
Portraits of Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are everywhere on posters and digital signages in theatre lobbies saturated with the tempting scent of popcorn. At one point, three out of every four show slots are allotted to a single title: Fast & Furious 8.
The China opening alone raked in US$190 million -- more than a third of the global box office takings and double North America’s -- within 72 hours. Cinema managers were exhilarated that China’s movie market is showing signs of life again following a gloomy 2016.
“It was a full house even late at midnight,”said Tan Yanran, a university student who went to watch the picture on Monday. “It has become the talk of the town.”
