China Box Office: Zhang Yimou’s ‘Cliff Walkers’ Strides Back Into Top Spot

John Cena has landed himself in hot water following an apology he made to China earlier this week.  During a recent interview with Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS, the Hollywood star was promoting the newest installment of the Fast & Furious film franchise.

Cena was called out for saying that Taiwan was one of the “first countries” that could watch his new film “F9,” and added, “as punishment John Cena was instructed to go on Weibo and grovel in Chinese for forgiveness. it’s disgusting.” In the video, Cena doesn’t exactly apologize for a specific thing but says in nearly fluent Mandarin, “I’m sorry for my mistake.

Actor John Cena is facing a backlash after apologising to China for referring to Taiwan as a country in a promotional interview. According to CNN, the actor made the comments while speaking to the Taiwanese network TVBS, stating: “Taiwan is the first country that can watch F9.

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Actor and professional wrestler John Cena has apologized to fans in China after he called Taiwan a country in a promotional interview for his upcoming film and became the latest celebrity to face the fury of Chinese nationalists.In a short video posted Tuesday on Chinese social media site Weibo, Cena did not refer to Taiwan or go into much detail about the incident, which occurred earlier this month when he was doing a promotion for “Fast & Furious 9” with Taiwanese media.“In

Actor John Cena is facing a backlash after apologising to China for referring to Taiwan as a country in a promotional interview. According to CNN, the actor made the comments while speaking to the Taiwanese network TVBS, stating: “Taiwan is the first country that can watch F9.

John Cena is apologizing for mistaking Taiwan as a country.During an interview with Taiwanese broadcaster, Cena reportedly said, «Taiwan is the first country that can watch [],» while promoting his upcoming action movie. The former wrestler received backlash after his initial comments, as the island is considered by Beijing as a territory claimed by China.Cena later posted a video in Mandarin on Weibo, a Chinese social network, apologizing for the error.

“You absolutely spineless, chickenshit, pathetic coward,” Meghan McCain tweeted on Tuesday afternoon (May 25), blasting John Cena with the anger she usually reserves for her co-hosts on The View. Meghan, 36, was furious at John, 44, for apologizing after he referred to Taiwan as an independent country and not as part of China while promoting his new film, F9.

Rebecca Davis editor“F9” star John Cena apologized to Chinese fans Tuesday after calling Taiwan a country in a promotional interview, but many viewers in the world’s largest film market have deemed his beseeching appeal for forgiveness insufficient.Speaking with the Taiwanese news channel TVBS earlier this month, the professional wrestler — who has been learning Chinese for over a decade — said in Mandarin that Taiwan would be the “first country” able to watch the latest installment of the

Fast And Furious 9, said that Taiwan, an island separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait, would be the first “country” able to watch the film.Coming under fire for his comment, Cena has since acknowledged his mistake and apologised in Mandarin. Sharing a clip on Chinese social media network Weibo, Cena said (as per South China Morning Post): “Hi China, I’m John Cena. I’m in the middle of Fast And Furious 9 promotions.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“F9” roared into the lead at the China box office, where the “Fast and Furious” franchise has repeatedly lapped faster than in North America.On its first weekend in China the film grossed $137 million, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.That gave it an 83% share of the China weekend box office, a market share figure that was notably stable from its Friday lights out.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“F9” has the international box office sizzling.The latest installment in Universal’s testosterone-fueled franchise kicked off with a massive $162.4 million in eight markets, including China, Korea and Hong Kong.

With its spies, secrets, and super-secret code names, Zhang Yimou’s “Cliff Walkers” is seemingly the Chinese director’s version of James Bond. But that’s where the comparisons end.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“F9” could send the box office into overdrive when it debuts overseas this weekend.The latest entry in Universal’s high-octane franchise, which opens in Korea, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Russia and China in the coming days, is expected to bring in at least $150 million to $180 million at the international box office.

The Toretto family will be back in action this week as Universal’s F9 speeds into early offshore release beginning in Korea and Hong Kong on Wednesday, followed by Russia and the Middle East on Thursday and China on Friday. In those markets combined, F9 is looking to drive off with an opening weekend in the $160M-$180M range, industry sources believe, though it could go higher.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefZhang Yimou’s period espionage thriller “Cliff Walkers” ran out a comfortable winner at the mainland Chinese box office, ahead of other holdovers and new release titles including Jason Statham-starring “Wrath of Man.”“Cliff Walkers” dropped only 32% between its second and third weekends, taking $16.6 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.

Refresh for latest…: A significant week is ahead at the international box office as Universal’s F9 starts its engines in a handful of major markets including China, Russia and Korea — and as the UK and France will reopen cinemas after a roughly seven-month shutdown. In the meantime, Fast & Furious franchise alum Jason Statham’s Wrath Of Man was the main overseas Hollywood title this session, lifting its offshore cume to $41.4M for $56M global.

Refresh for latest…: Yet another international box office frame was led by Chinese movies in their home market as local May Day holdovers continued play coming off a record holiday session. While a handful of studio titles are doing business in other pockets of the world, we are in something of a holding pattern until majors like the UK and France begin opening in the coming weeks, and as Universal’s F9 is expected to rev up overseas turnstiles for Hollywood starting on May 19.

Chinese box office across the five-day May Day holiday which concluded Wednesday hit a record high of RMB 1.67B ($258M). This is up from the RMB 1.53B grossed during the similar 2019 frame which lasted four days.

Rebecca Davis editorChinese authorities have issued warnings of a new crackdown on entertainment industry financial practices and astronomical star salaries in wake of another high-profile celebrity tax scandal.

Jessica Kiang When the urgent desire to make something beautiful overrides the desire to tell a particular story — and when you are Zhang Yimou, rebounding from a run-in with the Chinese authorities over your last picture, “One Second” — you might end up with a film like “Cliff Walkers.” A gorgeously snowbound period spy movie insulated beneath layers of contorted plotting just as its cast is swaddled in snow-speckled winter furs and fedoras, the film is a muddle of a plot wrapped around a