As the face of a man horrifyingly changes (top), bewilderment strikes a woman before her head gets gobbled up, scenes from the Japanese sci-fi horror, “Parasyte,” released in China in September. (Photo : Madman/YouTube)
Going to the movies? There’s a couple for sci-fi fans, one for cat lovers and another one that caters to those who might want to see how a shark makes its attack on two-legged targets.
As of Sept. 17, two American movies together with one French and one Japanese released this month emerged victorious in China, according to The Numbers, a site providing detailed movie financial information.
Grossing an incredible $59 million, “Star Trek Beyond” tops the list.
Released on Sept. 1 in the country, Taipei-born Justin Lin’s 2-hour sci-fi film earned $30.5 million on its opening weekend.
Jack Ma’s Alibaba Pictures and Beijing-based Huahua Media invested on the thirteenth “Star Trek” movie franchise.
“Star Trek Beyond” received a production budget of $185 million.
Chris Pine (as James T. Kirk, the captain of the spaceship Enterprise), Zachary Quinto (as human-alien hybrid Commander Spock), Zoe Saldana (as communications officer Nyota Uhura) and John Cho (as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu) reprised their respective roles for the third time--previously appearing in J. J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” (2009) and “Star Trek into Darkness” (2013).
Next, with a $13 million budget, Jaume Collet-Serra’s thriller, “The Shallows” so far made $12 million; on its first week, $8.4 million.
One promotional poster hinted on what the film could be about: “Not just another day at the beach.”
A medical student (Blake Lively) vacationing in Mexico and surfing on one of its beaches couldn’t agree more.
Third on the list is Barry Sonnenfeld’s fantasy-comedy, “Nine Lives.” This French film in English language earned $11.8 million.
Starring Kevin Spacey as a workaholic billionaire who got turned into a cat and Jennifer Garner playing his wife, it made $8.2 million in its first week of release.
“The Shallows” and “Nine Lives” hit the theaters on Sept. 9.
Takashi Yamazaki’s sci-fi horror, “Kiseijuu” (2014) caught the fancy of many local moviegoers. Ticket sales for this Japanese movie already reached $7 million.
Released as “Parasyte” in the country on Sept. 2, it earned $3.7 million on its opening weekend.
Given the warm reception, perhaps the 2015 sequel, “Kiseijuu: Kanketsuhen” (“Parasyte: 2”) might also be released in the country?
Both movies were based from Hitoshi Iwaaki’s manga series.
Shota Sometani plays the lead role of a high school student who discovered that an alien parasite entered his body. It unsuccessfully tried to get into his brain, and then opted to stay on his right hand.
For worldwide box office, according to The Numbers, as of Sept. 17, “Star Trek Beyond” grossed $318.4 million; “The Shallows,” $113.8 million and “Nine Lives,” $35.4 million.
