Chinese blockbuster Wolf Warrior 2 set for re-release, but will it end up howling at the moon?
Distributor hopes to breathe new life into flagging box office by reshowing patriotic blockbuster that took US$830 million last year
China’s highest-grossing film of all time, the nationalistic Wolf Warrior 2, will return to cinemas across the country next week as the industry tries to stimulate a flagging market after a series of box office flops.
The story of the former special forces operative who comes out of retirement to save Chinese citizens from an African war zone, made its debut in July last year and raked in 5.68 billion yuan (US$829.9 million) in the Chinese mainland and US$2.7 million in the United States.
Chinese cinema chain Dadi, which is part of the Dadi Media Group, said the film – a sequel to 2015’s Wolf Warrior – will be shown at about 200 of its theatres from Wednesday until October 19.
The month-long period includes the National Day holiday on October 1.
Yu Yusan, executive vice-general manager of Dadi Century Films Distribution, which is part of the same group, said the decision to re-release the blockbuster was driven by a slowdown in takings at the box office.