‘No Time To Die’ Tops China Box Office With $8M On Day One; Eyes $30M+ Weekend, But New Covid Closures Could Play Role

Rebecca Davis editorChinese film authorities on Wednesday granted both “Dune” and “No Time to Die” one month longer in local theaters, giving the Hollywood blockbusters a full two months on the big screen in the world’s largest film market.The former will now run through Dec. 21 and the latter through Dec.

A children’s hospital in Shanghai is the new home for China’s first ever clinic for transgender kids.The Children’s Hospital of Fudan University announced earlier this month that they would create a clinic to help trans children  “reduce the negative emotions” they may feel and also help “improve their family relationships”.The clinic officially opened last week, and is China’s first of its kind facility to support trans children with their gender identity. Chinese tabloid Global Times had

agreed to ease restrictions on foreign journalists in both countries.China had been expelling some American journalists during the Trump administration in the last year. Under this agreement following President Biden and President Xi Jinping’s meeting, three news organizations, which include The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The New York Times, will be allowed to send their journalists to China.

Rebecca Davis editorOver the next five years, China plans to expand its fleet of movie screens to more than 100,000 and release at least 50 $15 million-grossing films a year as it seeks to retain its title as the world’s largest film market, according to a new government plan outlining current film industry priorities.The targets are among the most concrete presented in a new five-year plan for Chinese film spanning from 2021 to 2025, which replaces an earlier 10-year strategy spanning 2011 to

Rebecca Davis editorDisney’s “Jungle Cruise” didn’t manage to catch a swift current in its China debut, drifting to a slow $3.3 million first three-day weekend, according to data from the Artisan Gateway consultancy. The Maoyan data platform currently estimates it will gross a total of just $6.19 million.The adventure tale has clearly lost steam since its simultaneous release in U.S.

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No Time to Die” dropped by 59% in its second weekend at the Chinese box office. But it still held on to the top spot in the Middle Kingdom.Data from Artisan Gateway showed that “No Time to Die” scored $11.4 million between Friday and Sunday.

The partner of a teacher who has been in a coma for nine months in a Chinese hospital after a routine clinical procedure went terribly wrong has stated: "They’d rather she died."

Refresh for latest…: MGM/Eon/Universal’s No Time To Die, as projected, crossed the $600M global mark this weekend, leading international box office play with an additional $51.9M from 72 combined Universal and MGM markets. That lifts the offshore cume to $472.4M and worldwide to $605.8M.

Rebecca Davis editorUnfortunately for “No Time to Die’s” China debut, government authorities have decided that it’s currently no time for citizens to risk dying of COVID-19 at the movies and are taking extra precautions to suspend cinema operations across the country this weekend as new outbreaks occur.Hollywood is catching a tough break in China this month.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefJames Bond franchise movie “No Time to Die” claimed the honor of deposing record-breaking local film “The Battle At Lake Changjin” from the top of the Chinese box office. But 007’s unspectacular first day trajectory will leave studio and audiences neither shaken nor stirred.Throughout Friday, “No Time to Die” tracked comfortably at the top of the Chinese chart, with market share as high as 55% in the morning sessions.

Enes Kanter is calling out Nike.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe global box office recovery is accelerating. Revenues in 2021 could hit $21.6 billion, according to a new forecast from research firm Gower Street Analytics.That compared with the firm’s previous $20.2 billion estimate made a couple of months ago.“We anticipate a potential additional upside that could see the current year finish around $22 billion globally.

Last Week Tonight.Cena came under fire in May after calling Taiwan a country during an interview. The actor, who was promoting 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.“I made one mistake,” Cena said afterwards on Chinese social media network Weibo (as per South China Morning Post). “I love and respect China and Chinese people.

On Sunday’s “Last Week Tonight,” host John Oliver used awkward apologies given to China by actor John Cena and clothing company The Gap to highlight just how intense the country’s government feels about its claim of ownership of Taiwan. “China insists that Taiwan, an independently operating entity, with its own democratically elected leaders, armed forces and constitution is actually part of China, and in no way a separate country,” Oliver said.

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver tackled the topic of Taiwan on Sunday night which made for the perfect opportunity to mock John Cena.