"Monster Hunt" is one of the proofs of Chinese animation sector's success. (Photo : Variety)
Last week, China's box office brought in a massive $284 million, marking a big milestone for homegrowns as the country continues its annual summer blackout period for foreign titles.
Topping the list is Hong Kong director Raman Hui's fantasy epic, "Monster Hunt," racking up $108 million worth of ticket sales. Hui, known for co-directing "Shrek the Third," scored with the CGI film set in a world where men co-exist with monsters and is currently witnessing a civil war.
According to China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, the film was the week's top film, and that Saturday last week, the country's single-day box-office receipts record was hit, earning a new figure amounting to $64.4 million.
For Rance Pow, film industry consulting company Artisan Gateway chief, last week's feat was "not only [about] the strength, but the depth and variety of local films in the market, and the potential that suggests for China's growing domestic production industry."
"Monster Hunt," which opened Thursday last week, was followed by the Chinese comedy "Pancake Man." The film, distributed by Wanda Media, opened on Friday and gathered a total of $69 million in ticket sales through Sunday.
Coming in the third place was the animated film "Monkey King: Hero Is Back." The film, since its July 10 debut, has sold around $75 million in tickets. According to Artisan, it could surpass "Kung Fu Panda 2" as the highest grossing animation in the country.
Completing the top five are the $60-million-earning "Forever Young," and "Tiny Times," which was able to gather $77 million ticket sales since its premiere on July 9.
Homegrowns flourished continually as Chinese media regulators shut Hollywood movies, such as Universal's "Minions" and Pixar's "Inside Out," out of Chinese cinemas for the summer season.
