‘Ready Player One’ soars for second week
BEIJING — The futuristic blockbuster “Ready Player One” extended its lead for a second week at China’s movie box office, making it the highest-grossing Warner Bros. release ever in the country.
The movie collected $100.8 million in ticket sales last week in the world’s second-largest film market, reaching $162.8 million in 10 days, according to consulting firm Artisan Gateway.
Steven Spielberg’s latest work received more glowing reviews on website Douban.com than other recent sci-fi blockbusters, including “Pacific Rim” and “Tomb Raider.” One viewer wrote that Spielberg “never let us down. I’m so intrigued by his creativity and imagination.”
The Indian drama “Hindi Medium” opened with $21.4 million in five days. The story features a couple who want to give their daughter better educational opportunities, a theme that resonates in Chinese society. It’s the third Indian import released in China this year, following “Secret Superstar” and “Bajrangi Bhaijaan.”
Legendary Pictures’ sci-fi film “Pacific Rim: Uprising” pulled in an additional $8.7 million for a total of $98.6 million in three weeks. Its 2013 original title grossed $110.4 million.
Russia’s animated film “Snow Queen 3: Fire and Ice” opened with $6.9 million in four days. The Chinese crime thriller “Wrath of Silence” launched with $5.7 million after five days.
China has had a good first quarter, with box-office sales of $3.17 billion, surpassing the U.S. total for the first time during that period, according to the state-run New China News Agency. The U.S. box office generated $2.85 billion in the same period, according to data tracking service ComScore.