All articles tagged with #hollywood films
Betty Boop, Blondie, Mickey Mouse, Pluto, and several classic detective and literary characters are entering the public domain in 2026, allowing free use and adaptation, marking a significant cultural milestone with implications for creators and copyright law.
'Avatar 3' opened at No. 1 in China with a $57.6 million debut, contributing to a rising China box office that reached 51 billion yuan in 2025, driven by both local hits like Ne Zha 2 and successful Hollywood imports like Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash, reflecting China's growing appetite for high-quality family and franchise films.
Ronnie Rondell Jr, a veteran Hollywood stuntman famous for being set on fire for Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' album cover and for his roles in numerous films, has died at age 88. He was known for daring stunts in movies like 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'Lethal Weapon,' and came from a family with deep roots in the film industry. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" has reached nearly $60 million at the Chinese box office, coming in fourth place for the weekend. The film has performed well in Imax, earning $17 million in the format. It is now among Nolan's top-grossing films in China, behind "Interstellar" and "Inception." Meanwhile, local crime thriller "Dust to Dust" took the top spot, followed by Sylvester Stallone's "Expend4bles." Chinese comedy blockbuster "No More Bets" continues to dominate, with a total of $531.7 million. Paramount's "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie" will be the only U.S. release in China this week.
China's summer box office has set a new record, generating 17.8 billion yuan ($2.44 billion) in revenue, with domestic films outperforming Hollywood hits like "Barbie". Four films have surpassed the 2 billion yuan mark, including "Lost in the Stars" and "No More Bets". Despite a sluggish recovery in consumer spending, this year's summer film revenue has exceeded the previous record set in 2019. However, Hollywood films like "Barbie" and "Mission: Impossible–Dead Reckoning Part One" did not perform as well, with lower box office earnings.
The box office in mainland China achieved a record-breaking summer season with minimal input from Hollywood, according to ticketing agency Maoyan Entertainment. The previous record was surpassed two weeks before the end of the season, with a series of locally-produced films dominating the box office. Unlike previous years, there was no summer blackout period for Hollywood films, but most underperformed. The strongest contributors were "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" and "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1." Maoyan's revenues and profits were significantly boosted by the rising box office.
Local crime thriller No More Bets dominates China's box office, earning $101.1 million in its opening weekend and a total of $247.5 million so far. Meg 2: The Trench slips to third place, while Creation of the Gods 1: Kingdom of Storms climbs back to second place. Paramount Pictures' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem flops with a three-day start of under $1 million. Greta Gerwig's Barbie winds down in the market, and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is set to open in China on August 30.
After a slow start in China, the film Barbie has gained momentum in its second week, with strong critic scores and positive word of mouth. Despite facing tough competition from local hits, Barbie's excellent ratings on Chinese movie apps and audience support have led to an increase in the number of screens dedicated to the film. Chinese feminists are embracing Barbie for its themes of feminism and toxic masculinity, and the film has managed to navigate China's strict censorship despite addressing these issues and featuring LGBTQ+ characters. However, it is projected that Barbie will not have the same impact in China as it has in other markets, with an estimated total of $36 million for its China run.
Despite its record-setting box office opening in North America, the Greta Gerwig-directed film "Barbie" had a disappointing start in China, earning only $8 million and finishing fifth behind local Chinese hits. This continues a trend of Hollywood films underperforming in China. However, Barbie has received positive word of mouth and saw a boost in sales rankings on Monday. The film faced tough competition from local releases, including the historical fantasy epic "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms" and the animated film "Chang An."
Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" film had a disappointing opening day in China, earning only $960,000 and finishing in sixth place. This continues the trend of Hollywood films underperforming in China, with total ticket sales for U.S. movies in the first half of 2023 down 69% compared to 2019. In contrast, Chinese films are thriving, with ticket revenue for local titles increasing by 27% during the same period. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" has been approved for release in China but has yet to receive a release date.
Despite the star power of Tom Cruise, Hollywood films are struggling to attract Chinese moviegoers in China's box office. The Chinese film market has become increasingly competitive, with local productions dominating the box office and leaving little room for foreign films to succeed. This trend highlights the challenges faced by Hollywood in appealing to Chinese audiences and gaining a foothold in the lucrative Chinese market.
Tom Cruise's latest film, "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One," failed to make a strong impact at the Chinese box office, debuting in third place behind two local hits. The film earned just $25.9 million in its opening weekend, a significant drop from the previous "Mission: Impossible" installment. Despite positive reviews, American movies are struggling to attract Chinese audiences, with local films dominating the market. China's theatrical box office has shown signs of recovery, but the earnings shortfall is largely due to the decline in U.S. movie earnings.
Fast X continues to dominate the Chinese box office, with a cumulative total of $110 million after 12 days. The disappointing opening weekend for Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid, which earned only $2.5 million, has raised questions about Chinese audiences' willingness to watch films with prominent Black characters. The Global Times accused Disney of "lazy and irresponsible storytelling strategy" and "political correctness" for casting a Black actor in the lead role. The weekend box office aggregate in China slipped back to $42.2 million, the lowest figure in a month.