China’s Lunar New Year box office tops US$1 billion, with YOLO fat-to-fit story still No 1
- China Film Administration says box office takings for eight-day holiday were up by about 18.5 per cent compared to similar period in 2023
- YOLO, Pegasus and Boonie Bears make up top three, followed by Zhang Yimou’s Article 20, while Hollywood and Hong Kong no-show continues
Following close behind YOLO (“You Only Live Once” or Re La Gun Tang in Chinese) – the story of an overweight woman who becomes fit through boxing training – was Pegasus 2, directed by Chinese novelist Han Han. It took 2.4 billion yuan, while animated film Boonie Bears rounded out the top three with 1.38 billion yuan.
Award-winning director Zhang Yimou’s Article 20 was at No 4 with 1.34 billion yuan.
Box office takings were up by about 18.5 per cent compared to the 2023 new year period, which lasted seven days, and viewership had increased by more than a quarter, the China Film Administration said on Sunday.
But Hollywood and Hong Kong films were once again conspicuous by their absence.
The Movie Emperor, starring Hong Kong legend Andy Lau Tak-wah, was the only film with any connection to the city, but it was withdrawn from cinemas on Saturday due to unsatisfactory viewership.
The mainland produced and directed film had released on February 10, Lunar New Year’s Day. It would be released “at an appropriate time in the future”, production company Huanxi Media announced on Weibo.