China's film market has surpassed the 20 billion yuan (U.S.$3.22 billion) mark reached by total gross of films released in China by Monday night, China Movie Channel website 1905.com reported.
The accomplishment was completed in just 180 days, 66 days earlier than it took to reach the same mark last year. China's domestic films earned 9.3 billion yuan (U.S.$1.49 billion) in total, 46.5 percent of the total gross calculating both domestic and foreign films released in Chinese mainland.
Of all films released this year, 39 films have earned more than 100 million yuan (U.S.$16.11 million), a Chinese benchmark that generally judges whether a film is a success. Chinese domestic films have 20 above 100 million yuan mark while there were 19 foreign films above the mark.
By comparison, it took 342 days to reach the 20 billion yuan mark in China in 2013. In 2014, it took 246 days to do so, but this year the pace was much faster. Judging by this trend, experts predict the total gross of all films screened in China this year will be more than 40 billion yuan (U.S.$6.44 billion), a new record in China's history.
Though "The Man From Macao II, " "Dragon Blade," and "Wolf Totem" made 973 million yuan (U.S.$156.75 million), 743 million (U.S.$119.69 million) and 696 million (U.S.$112.12 million) respectively during the furious competitive Spring Festival season and have been the top 3 highest grossing Chinese domestic films in 2015, three Hollywood films still managed to take over the top 3 spots of overall chart this year.
"Furious 7," grossing 2.4 billion yuan (U.S.$386.64 million), set a series of box office records in the world's second largest film market and became the highest grossing film of 2015 and of all time in China. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" took in 1.48 billion yuan (U.S.$238.4 million) and sitting at No.2. "Jurassic World," which also set many records in the world, grossed 1.26 billion yuan (U.S.$202 million) so far in China in just 19 days and will likely surpass "Avengers 2" and take second place.
As we enter July, the next two months are usually filled with the screening of Chinese made summer blockbusters. Observers are expecting new box office records for Chinese films.
