Film Roundup: The Top Ten Films of 2008 and Red Cliff II
The Top Ten Films of 2008
Triumphant reports of the continued dominance of domestic films over imported films at the Chinese box office in 2008 appeared on the pages of entertainment websites across China earlier this week. The claims of domestic strength were included in reports that detailed the 26.9% growth in box office takings over the previous year’s numbers to a total of RMB 4.21 billion in 2008.
According to the reports, this pushes China into the world’s top ten cinema markets. The 400 domestically produced films, most of which never made it to cinema screens, also see China rise to third on the world tables of film production.
Of the 4.21 billion spent at urban cinemas across China in 2008, 2.56 billion was spent on tickets to see domestically produced films. This marks a 42% increase on the amount of money spent on domestic films in 2007 and translates into domestic films accounting for 61% of aggregate box office numbers.
However these numbers, along with all box office stats in China (there is no authoritative independent source of box office takings), should be taken with a grain of salt. Aside from fuzzy numbers, the most obvious problem with the analysis is the categorization of what appear to be foreign films (though perhaps with Chinese investment) such as The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and The Forbidden Kingdom as domestic films. If you subtract the takings of these two films from the 2.56 billion domestic total, the percentage of total takings made up by domestic films falls closer to 50%.
Though detailed numbers were missing from the reports, we’ve pieced together some numbers below to form a rough list of the top ten grossing films at China’s cinemas in 2008:
1、Red Cliff Part 1(赤壁·上Chibi Shang) RMB 312 million – released Jul. (Domestic)
2. If You Are the One (非诚勿扰 Feicheng Wurao) RMB 233 million (as of Dec 31 – by Jan 6 the film had already hit RMB 302 million. Released in Dec. (Domestic)
3. Painted Skin (画皮 Huapi) RMB 230 million – released in Sep. (Domestic)
4. CJ7(长江7号 Changjiang Qi Hao) RMB 202 million – released in Feb. (Domestic – HK)
5、Kungfu Panda RMB 190 million – released in Jun (Import )
6、The Forbidden Kingdom (功夫之王 Gongfu Zhiwang) RMB 186 million – released in Apr. (Import – but counted as a domestic film in stats)
7、007: Quantum of Solace RMB 150 million – released in Nov. (Import)
8、The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor RMB 110 million – released in Sep. (Import but counted as a domestic film or joint venture in stats)
9. Forever Enthralled (梅兰芳 Mei Lanfang) RMB 107 million – released in Dec. (Domestic)
10. Iron Man RMB 106 million – released in April. (import)
11、Hancock RMB 105 million – released in July (import)
The above stats were sourced from the following sites: The basis for the list can be found here, but updates for big films released in Dec were taken from here and here.
If you take a look at a comparative list for North America （other examples here and here), the popularity of the few American films that were released in China seems to echo their popularity in the US market - i.e films like Iron Man, Kungfu Panda, Hancock and 007: Quantum of Solace were popular in both countries. The list also emphasised the absence of some much anticipated films that, despite rumors, never made it to the mainland - notbaly The Dark Knight and Wall-E.
Finally, for some lists of what various critics thought were the choice films of 2008, see this thread over at the Beijinger forum.
Films Around Town Screening Times for Films in Beijing – Wednesday Jan 7
(All times and prices have been taken from today’s Beijing News or this website – it would be a good idea to call and confirm details) If you can read Chinese, this is by far the best site to consult.
Red Cliff II The first installment of Red Cliff broke box office records throughout Asia when it was released earlier this year. John Woo's epic also managed to push Titianic of its perch and now lays claim to being both the most expensive and also the most lucrative Chinese film ever made. A short trailer of the second installment has also been proving popular on video sharing sites.
Xidan New Capital Cinema
17:25 17:45 18:05 18:25 18:45 19:15 19:25 19:35 20:00 20:20 20:40 21:00 21:20 21:40 22:10
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
17:20 17:50 18:30 19:00 19:40 20:10 20:40 21:20 21:50 22:30 23:00
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
17:20 17:50 18:30 19:00 19:40 20:10 20:40 21:20 21:50 22:30
HaidianUME International Cineplex
17:30 18:10 19:20 19:50 20:10 20:50 22:00 22:30 22:50 23:30
Stellar International Cineplex
17:30 18:15 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:05 21:50 22:30 23:10 23:55
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
17:30 18:10 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:00 21:50 22:20 23:00 23:50
17:40 18:10 18:40 19:20 19:50 20:20 20:50 21:20 22:00 22:30
DongsishitiaoEast Gate Cinema
17:50 18:20 19:00 19:40 20:20 20:40 21:30 22:10 22:50
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
17:10 17:35 18:00 18:25 19:20 19:50 20:15 20:40 21:05 22:00 22:30 22:55
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
19:00 19:24 19:30 19:59 20:00 20:34 20:35 21:09 21:10 21:39 21:40 22:09 22:10 22:39 22:40 23:14 23:49 00:19 00:49 01:19
Madagascar 2 (马达加斯加2 Ma Da Jia Si Jia 2)
19:30 20:10 21:30 23:30
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
19:20 21:15 23:10
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
18:05 20:00 21:55
Stellar International Cineplex
19:55
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
18:55 20:40 22:30
18:35 20:15 21:55
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
17:30 21:05
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
18:54 19:40 21:14 21:15 22:49 22:50 00:24
If You Are the One (Feicheng Wurao 非诚勿扰) Feng Xiaogang's return to the new year comedy tradition that brought him early fame. The talented and popular Ge You is along for the ride too. Many fans of the Feng's early works don't think it quite measures up to his old stuff - but the film is set to overtake Red Cliff I as the most lucrative domestic film ever. With English subtitles. View trailer (also with English subtitles) here.
17:30 18:00 18:30 19:10 20:10 20:40 21:10 21:50 22:50 23:20
Xidan New Capital Cinema
16:50 19:20 21:50
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
19:30 22:10
HaidianUME International Cineplex
17:25 19:50 20:30 22:15
Stellar International Cineplex
18:00 20:30 23:00
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
17:40 20:10 22:40
18:30 19:40 20:50 22:00
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
18:50 19:30 21:30 21:50 22:45
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
18:20 19:20 20:00 20:40 21:40 22:20 23:00
Forever Enthralled (梅兰芳 Mei Lanfang) A biographical account of iconic Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang directed by Chen Kaige and starring Beijing-born singer Leon Lai. Ziyi Zhang stars as Mei’s lover Meng Xiaodong. More info available here. You can look at the "trailer" - it's really just a selection of still images taken from the film set to a Peking Opera sound track - here.
18:35 21:30
HaidianUME International Cineplex
22:25
Stellar International Cineplex
18:35 21:25
Other Films Showing This Week:
Bolt (闪电狗Shan Diangou)
Bolt is a dog who plays a heroic canine in a hit TV show, but is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, where he begins his biggest adventure yet: a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with delusions and the help of two unlikely traveling companions – a jaded, abandoned housecat and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball –he learns along the way that he doesn't have superpowers and that what happens on his TV show is not real. See trailer here.
Ip Man (叶问 Ye Wen) The Cantonese action flick is a semi-biographical account of Yip Man (1893-1972), the martial arts master of Bruce Lee and the first to teach Wing Chun, an aggressive, close-range style of combat. “Ip Man” marks Yen’s fourth collaboration with director Wilson Yip, reuniting them with co-star Simon Yam and Sammo Hung who make a cameo appearance and serve as fight choreographers. See trailer here.
All About Women (女人不坏 Nv Ren Bu Huai) Tsui Hark's brand new romantic comedy, known as China's own 'Sex and the City', stars Zhou Xun, Zhang Yuqi and Kwai Lun-Mei. Tsui Hark's stylish, hilarious adventure depicts a trendy and contemporary Beijing through three separate encounters in the lives and loves of three modern yet very unique, young women. See trailer here.
Lady Cop & Papa Crook (大搜查 Da Sou Cha) Sammi Cheng stars in this new Hong Kong action comedy after three years’ absence from Hong Kong cinema. Cheng plays a police officer assigned to help investigate the kidnapping of the son of a corrupt red diesel kingpin (Eason Chan), thus beginning an unlikely alliance between fellow cops and criminals. See trailer here.
Joulutarina ( 圣诞传说 Sheng Dan Chuan Shuo) is a light-hearted Finnish movie, which tells the story of how Santa Claus came to be. Young Nikolas loses his family and is taken in by different local families each year. He makes toys for the children of the families as good-bye presents, encountering setbacks while creating the Christmas tradition that we know today. See trailer here.
Upcoming
Jan 20 Silver Medalist ( 疯狂的赛车 Feng Kuang de Sai Che) An action-adventure story focused on the lives of express deliverymen, traffic cops and lonely beauties. Another crazy movie by Ning Hao after the triumph of Crazy Stone. More details here. You can also view trailer here.
Jan 28 Australia (澳洲乱世情/澳大利亚 Aozhou Luanshiqing/ Aodaliya)
Baz Lurhmann's big budget project boasts a stellar cast of Australia's best actors and sublime scenery but despite a huge marketing push around the globe, doesn't seem to have won too many fans. Nicole Kidman has been on the end of some particularly negative reviews. Take a look at the trailer here and a roundup of reviews here and here.
Links and Sources
Yahoo: Top Ten Films Image