Even a Hollywood hit with Chinese characteristics can’t seem to revive the U.S. studios’ diminished status at China’s box office.
Dreamworks Animation‘s Kung Fu Panda 4 — the latest installment in one of China’s favorite long-running U.S. franchises, thanks to its Chinese culture-steeped story — opened to $14.7 million from Friday to Sunday, according to data from regional consultancy Artisan Gateway. But that total top-lined one of the country’s weakest weekends of the year, so far. Including preview screenings the week prior, Kung Fu Panda 4 finished Sunday with a somewhat healthier-sounding $25.9 million.
Either way, the movie is miles behind its franchise predecessor Kung Fu Panda 3, which opened the weekend before Chinese New Year in 2016 with a record-setting $57.8 million haul. The threequel finished its run in China with $154.3 million, surpassing its North American total of $143.5 million. Chinese ticketing app Maoyan currently projects Kung Fu Panda 4 to top out at about $44 million.
Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Two, meanwhile, is doing somewhat better than its —admittedly much more recent — franchise predecessor. The Denis Villeneuve film added $4.6 million over its third weekend for a total of $44.6 million, exceeding Dune: Part One‘s $39.5 million lifetime tally in 2021. Maoyan now forecasts the sequel to finish at close to $50 million.
Holdover Taiwanese black comedy thriller The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon earned $6.8 million and came in second for the weekend ahead of Dune: Part Two. The crime-themed feature, written and directed by Hong Kong’s Wong Ching-po, has earned $48.5 million since its release on March 1.
China’s year-to-date box office total was $2.24 billion as of Sunday, up 5 on the same period from 2023.
Legendary and Warners’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, opening Friday, is the next major U.S. release to hit China.
