China Box Office: Jackie Chan Wins Hearts with ‘Ride On’, beats Japanese anime hit ‘Suzume’ and ‘Super Mario Bros.’
Universal’s adaptation of Nintendo’s iconic game franchise, Super Mario Bros., may have smashed box office records in North America, but it didn’t fare too well in China. The film only made $6.3 million during its opening weekend in the Middle Kingdom, a stark contrast to its $146.4 million gross in North America. Meanwhile, Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan’s latest movie, Ride On, claimed the top spot at the Chinese box office with an opening of $11.7 million, beating out Super Mario Bros. and the Japanese anime hit Suzume.
Let’s talk about these movies that are making waves in the cinema scene.
First up, we got “Ride On,” starring the legendary Jackie Chan as a washed-up stuntman trying to save his beloved horse from debt collectors. This action-packed movie is directed by Larry Yang and produced by Alibaba Pictures, and it’s definitely worth the watch. Chan’s performance is top-notch, and the story is engaging and emotional. The movie is a true testament to Chan’s talent and charisma and is definitely a must-watch for fans of action and drama.
Ride On, directed by Larry Yang and produced by Alibaba Pictures, stars Chan as a stuntman struggling to keep his stunt horse away from debt collectors. The film’s success is expected to continue, with projections showing it could rake in over $30 million in total.
Next, we got “Suzume,” a Japanese anime hit that’s been taking the world by storm. Directed by Makoto Shinkai, this movie tells the story of a young girl who dreams of flying and her relationship with a boy who helps her make that dream a reality. The animation is stunning, and the story is heartwarming and poignant. “Suzume” is a beautiful movie that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.
Despite strong social scores of 9.4 on Maoyan and 9.5 on Taopiaopiao, Super Mario Bros. struggled to make an impact in China. While Universal timed its launch perfectly for China’s Qingming Festival national holiday, the film still couldn’t compete with holdovers Suzume and Chinese family drama Hachiko, which earned $7.6 million and $5.4 million, respectively. Super Mario Bros. only managed to bring in $4.7 million.
Last but not least, we got “Super Mario Bros.” This movie, based on the iconic game franchise, features a star-studded cast, including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black. The film is visually stunning and filled with action and adventure. However, it falls short in terms of story and character development. Despite its flaws, “Super Mario Bros.” is a fun, lighthearted movie that will appeal to fans of the game franchise and families looking for a good time.
In North America, Super Mario Bros. earned a staggering $204.6 million over the five-day Easter weekend. However, Hollywood films have been struggling in China lately, and Maoyan currently projects that the film will finish its run in the country with just $17.5 million.
Meanwhile, Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume continued its impressive run in China, grossing $8 million in its third weekend and bringing its total to $102.6 million. The anime is projected to make upwards of $110 million, setting a new all-time high for Japanese animation in China.
In conclusion, while Super Mario Bros. may have dominated the North American box office, it wasn’t able to make a significant impact in China. Despite its impressive social scores, it was beaten by local and Japanese films that had already been in theaters for several weeks. However, Jackie Chan’s Ride On managed to capture Chinese audiences’ attention and take the top spot at the box office, proving that the actor still has what it takes to draw in crowds after 60 years in the business.
