‘Sacrifice’ Reaches $150 Million Giving Strength to the China Box Office

An online backlash that swirled in China on Friday over a scene in Monster Hunter has resulted in the movie being pulled from the country’s cinemas. The Paul WS Anderson-directed feature game adaptation had been eyeing the market as one of its biggest plays, but a short exchange in the film has been perceived as racist by local audiences, and led to its run being abruptly halted late yesterday, the first day of its official launch.

The new movie Monster Hunter doesn’t come out in theaters in the U.S. until Christmas Day, but it was just released in China and now has been pulled from theaters amid controversy.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor“Mulan” lands on Disney Plus for subscribers at no extra charge this weekend. The live-action remake directed by Niki Caro is an adaptation of Disney’s 1998 animated film and based on Chinese folklore.

Vivienne Chow Chinese companies unveiled a slate of high production value drama series ranging from historical war epics to contemporary shows set against the backdrop of modern cityscapes to lure foreign buyers at Singapore’s Asia TV Forum (ATF) on Tuesday.Presented as part of the China Pavilion, the 30-minute showcase streamed at the virtual ATF and highlighted six series.

Vivienne Chow A new dramatic series revolving around China’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic is featured in the market screenings of Singapore’s Asia TV Forum (ATF). The series takes pride of place as part of the Middle Kingdom’s most elaborate presence at virtual markets this year.“With You” is a 20-episode anthological drama series featuring 10 fact-based stories about Chinese civilians’ battle against the coronavirus outbreak, said organizers.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorDua Lipa’s “Studio 2054” livestream concert event drew a whopping 5 million-plus global views, according to an announcement from her reps — this tally is said to be a record for a paid livestream.

Universal's The Croods: A New Age was the decisive winner of a competitive three-way race at China's box office over the weekend, topping both holdover local hit Caught in Time and the latest release from venerated Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou. Croods 2 opened in China to a healthy $19.2 million, which was $5 million more than its five-day holiday start in North America.

Despite the most challenged Thanksgiving box office in modern times, The Croods: A New Age managed to come in ahead of projections with a five-day holiday debut of $14.2 million, including $9.7 million for the weekend. Overseas, the family film launched in seven markets to $20.8 million — led by $19.2 million in China — for a global bow of $35 million.

ViacomCBS’s UK broadcaster Channel 5 and PBS Masterpiece have confirmed that period veterinary drama All Creatures Great And Small will return for a second six-part season.

The Croods: A New Age earned $3.9 million on Black Friday for a better-than-expected five-day debut of $14 million-plus in North America if projections hold. That includes a three-day weekend tally of $9.7 million, as strong as Tenet.

The Croods: A New Age is on top at movie theaters.

Refresh for latest…: DreamWorks Animation/Universal’s The Croods: A New Age led the weekend in China with a $19.2M debut, outpacing local titles One Second and Caught In Time. This is the third best bow for a studio movie in the Middle Kingdom during the pandemic era (behind Tenet and Mulan).

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefHit variety TV show “China’s Got Talent” has been renewed for a seventh season and will be produced by Shanghai Canxing Culture and Media for Star China Media.The “Got Talent” property was created by Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment, with the international rights represented by Fremantle. The two companies are the format’s co-owners.“ ‘China’s Got Talent’ is renowned for discovering new and incredible local talent.

Fremantle and Syco Entertainment have announced that China’s Got Talent has been renewed for a seventh season, but declined to reveal what network will broadcast the show, raising questions about Dragon TV’s future involvement.

Nancy Tartaglione International Box Office Editor/Senior ContributorJapan’s runaway smash Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train continued its reign at the top of the local charts this weekend, despite the release of Stand By Me Doraemon 2. Monday is a holiday in Japan, so full official weekend figures are not expected to be reported until Tuesday.