The Hollywood action blockbuster "Terminator Genisys" is the first overseas film to be shown in the Chinese box office, following a two-month-long period of Chinese cinemas being exclusive to domestic releases.
Analysts predict that "Terminator Genisys" will be a hit among Chinese audiences and earn several million yuan, following midnight screenings in 40 percent of cinemas all over the nation, wherein the film made 13 million yuan.
"My friend Dwayne Johnson's film 'San Andreas' broke 600 million [yuan] here, I hope 'Terminator' can surpass that," said Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount Pictures, at a press conference for "Terminator Genisys" in Beijing on Friday.
After the success of "Transformers: Age of Extinction" in China, grossing 2 billion yuan in 2014, Paramount has put a greater focus on marketing films for the Chinese market. At the time of its release, "Transformers: Age of Extinction" was the all-time highest grossing film in the Chinese box office, a record that has now been surpassed by Hollywood film "Furious 7" and domestic film "Monster Hunt."
For "Terminator Genisys," Paramount has brought star Arnold Schwarzenegger and director Alan Taylor to China to promote the film. The studio also had Chinese singer Jane Zhang sing the song "Fighting Shadows" specifically for the film.
The film tells the story of Schwarzenegger as Kyle Reese, played by Jai Courtney, who is sent back in time to protect Sarah Connor, played by Emilia Clarke. Reese then discovers that the timeline has been altered and Connor has been raised by a reprogrammed Terminator, played by Schwarzenegger, since childhood.
Taylor said that his hope with the new "Terminator" film is that it brings the spirit of the first two films in the franchise. The first two films were seen as commercial and critical successes, with many naming them among the best action films of all time, while the third and fourth films have been notably less successful.
In September, another Paramount film, "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation," is set to be released in China, and Tom Cruise is expected to travel to the country to promote the film.