According to Artisan Gateway, James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash debuted at number one at the Chinese box office, grossing RMB 384.1 million ($54.1 million) in the December 19-21 window for a total of RMB 405 million ($57 million).
Approximately $13.5 million of the Chinese total came from the Imax format, accounting for 23% of the opening weekend box office total in the Middle Kingdom.
The 20th Century Studios release boosted the market in late December, comfortably outperforming the holdover led by Walt Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” which added $27 million in its fourth weekend. The animated sequel has now grossed $536.8 million, cementing its place as one of the year’s biggest box office hits in China.
Daylight Entertainment’s “Gezhi Town” remains in third place, earning $3 million for a total of $49.7 million to date. Directed by Kong Sheng and written by Lan Xiaolong, the film tells the story of refugees who settle in a remote mountain town near Yichang after the fall of Nanjing during the war, only to find their peace shattered by the arrival of Japanese troops. The lead cast includes Xiao Zhan, Chou Yiran, Peng Yu Zhang, and more.
NCM Television’s romantic comedy “Love Is Hard” debuted at No. 4 with $800,000 in previews ahead of its wide release on Dec. 27. The third installment of the Qing Sheng series, co-written and directed by Dong Xu, centers on a marriage strained by a crisis of trust, with elaborate plans and misunderstandings pushing the couple into highly comedic territory. The ensemble features Xiao Yang, Tan Zhuo, Qiao Shan, Chang Yuan, and Zhang Xiaowan.
Rounding out the top five was Emperor Motion Pictures’ “Under Current,” which earned $200,000, bringing its total box office gross to $4 million. Directed by Alan Mak and starring Aaron Kwok, Simon Yam, and Francis Ng, this Hong Kong crime thriller centers on a barrister and a police officer who work together to investigate the suspicious death of a charity’s finance director, exposing corruption and money laundering at the heart of the organization.
The film grossed a total of $86.5 million over the weekend. China’s year-to-date box office revenue now stands at $7.18 billion, an increase of 23.4% compared to the same point in 2024.
