## ‘Be My Friend’ Triumphs over ‘Furiosa’ and ‘Civil War’ at China Box Office amidst Dragon Boat Holiday Rush
Beijing, June 9, 2024 – The Chinese box office witnessed a significant shakeup during the Dragon Boat holiday weekend, with domestic releases dominating the landscape. ‘Be My Friend’ emerged as the frontrunner, eclipsing the highly anticipated imported titles ‘Furiosa’ and ‘Civil War.’
### ‘Be My Friend’ Surges Ahead
Directed by He Nian, ‘Be My Friend’ is a youth comedy adapted from the popular TV show of the same name. Its two-day debut grossed an impressive $8.1 million (RMB57.7 million), establishing a strong foothold in the competitive holiday market.
### ‘Walk the Line’ and ‘Crisis Negotiators’ Follow Closely
‘Walk the Line,’ a crime comedy by Wubai, and ‘Crisis Negotiators,’ a Hong Kong-produced thriller starring Sean Lau Ching-wan and Francis Ng, also performed well, securing second and third place with $7.8 million (RMB55.6 million) and $5.8 million (RMB40.9 million) respectively.
### Imported Titles Struggle
Despite their anticipated success, ‘Furiosa’ and ‘Civil War’ faced challenges in their Dragon Boat holiday debuts. ‘Furiosa,’ a prequel to the popular ‘Mad Max’ franchise, fell short of expectations, earning only $3.58 million in three days. Similarly, ‘Civil War,’ an action thriller, struggled to ignite interest, grossing $2.34 million over the weekend.
### Holiday Release Strategy Distorts Box Office
The strategic release of films during the holiday period has become increasingly prevalent in China, contributing to the volatility of the box office. Long weekends and minor holidays are now considered prime opportunities for domestic releases, resulting in a clustering of new releases and fierce competition.
### ‘Doraemon’ Suffers Weekend Drop
The previous weekend’s winner, ‘Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Earth Symphony,’ experienced a significant decline in its second weekend due to the influx of new releases. The animated film earned an estimated $2.28 million, bringing its cumulative total to $15.5 million.
### ‘Garfield’ and ‘Gold or Shit’ Make an Impact
‘The Garfield Movie,’ which had a successful two-day run the previous weekend, maintained its momentum, grossing $5.4 million for a nine-day cumulative of $15.2 million. ‘Gold or Shit,’ a family comedy that premiered at the Beijing International Film Festival, also made an impression, earning $4.8 million in its two-day debut.
### Box Office Insights
The Dragon Boat holiday weekend’s box office performance highlights the importance of carefully choosing release dates and targeting specific holiday periods. Domestic releases continue to dominate the Chinese market, while imported titles may face challenges in capturing the attention of local audiences. The volatility of the holiday box office is expected to continue as studios and distributors adjust their release strategies to capitalize on every lucrative opportunity.