Actualités

When asked about China’s plan to cut back on the Hollywood films it approves for release in its theaters in response to his tariffs, President Donald Trump responded with a chuckle on Thursday: “I think I’ve heard of worse things.”

Trump may not have many friends in Hollywood, but based on what studio insiders told TheWrap on Thursday, the response from the film industry to China’s move against them is closer to the president’s outright indifference than to any significant worry.

That’s because Hollywood has already largely made the adjustment to life without China after the country decoupled its rapidly rising market from American imports during the last surge in political tensions in the early stages of Joe Biden’s presidency.

In 2022, only 25 films from the U.S. were approved for Chinese release, according to data from Bloomberg and Maoyan. Last year, that number increased...

In a blow to 2025’s blockbusters, an escalating trade war has seen China reduce the number of Hollywood films it will show in its cinemas.

Well, this didn’t take long. Just 24 hours after saying it would respond to Donald Trump’s escalating trade war with China by reducing the import of US films, the country’s government has confirmed that it’s following through on its threat. While certainly not the box office goldmine that it used to be, Hollywood exports to China still earned around $600m last year.

Over recent years, China has vastly reduced the number of American films that make it into the country’s huge theatrical market. Back when it was building its theatrical infrastructure of almost 90,000 screens, the country was happy to import US films to create a supply that would in turn create demand. Now it has that demand, the country has replaced American imports with homegrown cinema,...

Thunderbolts* brings the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Five to a dramatic climax as the titular group of former villains spring into action to try and save the world. Though the upcoming superhero blockbuster is on track for a respectable opening weekend at the box office, it's set to trail the most recent MCU offering, Captain America: Brave New World.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Thunderbolts* is projected to earn between $63 million and $77 million domestically, with the consensus landing in the middle at $70 million. Even if Thunderbolts* reaches the highest point in that range, the Phase Five finale would still trail Brave New World, which grossed $88.5 million during its opening weekend. Brave New World has earned over $413 million worldwide since its Feb. 14 release, making it the sixth-lowest-grossing MCU film ever.

Though test screening reactions to Thunderbolts* have been positive, the fact that the film sees an all-new Marvel team fans aren't...

Donald Trump is laughing off China’s decision to reduce the number of U.S. movies it allows to play in the country. The China Film Administration confirmed the reduction on April 10 after reports surfaced a day earlier. Hours later, Trump was asked at a press conference about the decision.

“I think I’ve heard of worse things,” Trump answered while laughing and cracking a smile as the room of reporters also chuckled.

China’s announcement that it’s cutting back on the import of U.S. films came in the wake of Trump’s latest round of tariffs. The president announced a 90-day pause for several countries but increased tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%. China’s retaliatory tariffs are at 84%.

“The wrong action of the U.S. government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favorability towards American films,” the China Film Administration said in a response statement.

What has already been a rough year at the box office (make that a rough handful of years) is about to get even more rough. As we recently reported, U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs led China to consider a pause on allowing any Hollywood films to play in the country. Recently, Trump put a 90-day hold on his tariffs throughout much of the world, with the exclusion of China. Instead, he raised the tariffs once again on the country, escalating the trade war between two of the world's biggest economies. Now, that trade war is officially coming for Hollywood.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Chinese regulators are officially going to reduce the number of U.S. films allowed in the country in response to the tariffs imposed by Trump. Just how severe the reduction will be remains to be seen, but China has already been favoring homegrown titles of late,...

It’s official: China is set to reduce the number of Hollywood films it imports in response to an escalating tariff war with the U.S. and will look to increase film imports from other countries.

The China Film Administration (Cfa), the body that handles film releases and quotas in the country, released a statement on Thursday in response to a reporter’s question about whether the Trump administration’s increasing tariffs on China would impact imports of American films. A spokesperson for the Cfa said that the U.S. government had made the wrong move to “abuse tariffs on China” and that the situation “will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favorability towards American films.”

The statement added, “We will follow market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported. China is the world’s second-largest film market. We have always adhered...

Updated: The China Film Administration has confirmed that it will cut back on the import of U.S. films to the Middle Kingdom.

The move comes in the wake of the latest round in the tariff wars initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, where he announced a 90-day pause for several countries but increased tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%. China’s retaliatory tariffs are at 84%.

“The wrong action of the U.S. government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favorability towards American films,” the China Film Administration said on Thursday. “We will follow the market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.”

An Imax spokesperson told Variety: “We are pleased that China Film Administration has clarified its position on U.S. film imports and highly confident – given our decades of business and strong relationships in...

Ne Zha 2, China’s animated mega-blockbuster, is getting another, and very special, way to excite fans and the entertainment industry. The Beijing International Film Festival has unveiled that an exhibition featuring 150 posters for the movie hand-painted by director Yang Yu, who goes by the name Jiaozi, will take place during its 15th edition, which runs April 18-26.

Enlight Media recently sold the movie across Europe. Ne Zha 2 is already the highest-grossing animated film in movie history. Since its release over Chinese New Year in January, it has earned more than $2 billion in China. In North America, Ne Zha 2 opened on Feb. 14 and has performed far better than most Chinese commercial blockbusters do in the West.

The Beijing festival will “promote the milestone breakthrough” for Chinese animated movies as the film’s “box office miracle continues,” organizers said. “The Beijing International Film Festival has always been committed to...

Since the 2010s, China has been a honeypot for Hollywood blockbusters and has contributed heavily to the total grossing of some of this century’s biggest movies, including the Endgame duology and the Avatar flicks.

Although the second biggest movie market, this has given a lot of Hollywood releases an edge in the international market in recent years, it seems their luck might run out in the coming months.

Avatar | Credit: 20th Century Fox

With the US-China trade war catching steam in the wake of Home Alone 2 star Donald Trump’s globe-spanning tariffs, in retaliation, China is reportedly considering cutting Hollywood’s foothold in their domestic market.

China’s reported plans to combat tariffs might heavily cost Hollywood

Amidst blockbusters’ struggle in the domestic market, the Chinese-animated release, Ne Zha 2, crossed a whopping $2B figure, largely thanks to the Chinese box office, becoming the first non-English movie to achieve this feat.

Thunderbolts, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next tentpole, is set to land on multiplex screens in China on April 30, just ahead of the movie’s North American release on May 2.

That’s good news for Imax, as Hollywood titles are crucial to its business in China, the world’s second largest exhibition market. But amid an escalating global tariffs turmoil prompted by U.S. President Trump, Wall Street has begun to weigh the impact on Imax from a Hollywood boycott measure imposed by China.

And the consensus is the impact will be limited, especially as a diversified Imax is likely to more than cope with local language movies on its screens in China. In its recent first quarter, Imax China generated a record $167 million in box office, mostly from local language films and the Chinese animated feature Ne Zha 2 in particular.

“From a financial standpoint, restrictions placed on U.

Move over Bollywood, India’s animated heroes are taking center stage.

Warner Bros. Discovery is significantly ramping up its kids entertainment offering in India, with the media giant set to deliver 200 half-hours of fresh content across its three children’s channels in Q2 alone.

The company’s kids entertainment cluster, comprising Pogo, Cartoon Network and Discovery Kids, will introduce a slate of new content that includes 71 half-hours of new premieres on Pogo, focusing heavily on homegrown Indian IPs like “Chhota Bheem,” “Little Singham” and “Jay Jagannath.” The remit of Arjun Nohwar, general manager for India and South Asia, extends across the region with cross-border cultural similarities including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan.

“We are looking for stories that resonate across South Asia,” Nohwar tells Variety. “One thing that we’ve started seeing is that some of these franchises and shows that we make will resonate with the Indian diaspora across the world.

The U.S.-China trade relations are worsening by the minute. President Donald Trump imposed 54 percent tariffs on all Chinese goods, and China retaliated with a pledge of a 34 percent increase in tariffs to meet the U.S. tariff rates. The U.S. has threatened to impose a 50 percent additional levy, bringing the U.S. tariff on Chinese imports to 104 percent.

Some notable Chinese sources revealed China’s retaliatory measures, and it appears that Hollywood has a lot to worry from these slates of measures. The U.S. maintains a good trade surplus with China when it comes to the film business. Hollywood films continue to have a large market in China, while Chinese films don’t have the same luxury in North America.

Scarlett Johansson’s Jurassic World: Rebirth will be one of the movies affected by a potential Chinese ban | Credits: Universal Pictures

A potential Hollywood ban would...

David Corenswet’s Superman and Pedro Pascal’s The Fantastic Four are two of the biggest releases of the year. Both films aim for nothing short of a billion dollar in box office revenue from the global market. However, Donald Trump’s tariff policies might put a dent in those plans. China has reportedly come up with retaliatory measures to Trump’s threat to increase the U.S. tariff on Chinese imports.

Trump imposed 54 percent tariffs on all Chinese goods, and China retaliated with a pledge of a 34 percent increase in tariffs to meet the U.S. tariff rates. The U.S. has threatened to impose a 50 percent additional levy, bringing the U.S. tariff on Chinese imports to 104 percent.

James Gunn’s Superman can lose some revenue due to a potential Chinese ban | Credits: DC Studios/Warner Bros.

Sources have revealed that China plans to reduce or ban the...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's next blockbuster, Thunderbolts*, lands a release date in China as anticipation grows for the climactic Phase Five finale. However, the film may be the last Marvel movie to enjoy such a privilege for a long time, with China reportedly considering banning the showing of American films amid growing political tensions with the U.S.

Via X, Thunderbolts* released a poster showcasing the titular group of former villains/antiheroes while confirming that the superhero tentpole will be released in China on Apr. 30, two days before it hits cinemas stateside. However, a report from Bloomberg notes that multiple Chinese outlets have posted identical measures that government officials are seriously considering hitting back at new tariff threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump. Citing unidentified sources close to the situation, among the new measures is "reducing or banning the import of U.S. films."

Thunderbolts* Promotional Poster for China.

The global trade war sparked by Donald Trump’s tariffs may hit the box office soon, as two public figures in China released a list of countermeasures reportedly being measured by the country’s government that includes a possible ban on American-produced films.

The list was shared simultaneously on Chinese social media websites by Ren Yi, the widely followed grandson of former Guangdong communist party chief Ren Zhongyi, and Liu Hong, senior editor at the Xinhua News Agency. Bloomberg was among the first western news outlets to report on their posts.

Along with a film moratorium, other possible measures reportedly being considered include tariffs on soybeans and other U.S. agricultural products, a full ban on all U.S. poultry imports, and cutting off all support to the U.S. on fentanyl control.

In the hours since the posts were made, Xinhua has not published a report off of Hong’s statement.

Media and tech stocks are following broader markets in a volatile Tuesday, retreating in mid-afternoon trading after an early surge. Investors looking for cracks in a wall of tariffs initially were heartened as President Donald Trump and White House officials said the U.S. is open to negotiations with trading partners from Japan to South Korea and has been approached by some 50 nations as another wave of import taxes is set to hit at midnight Wednesday.

A first round of 10% went into effect on Saturday.

However, nothing going with China, the nation’s third largest trading partner after Canada and Mexico. Beijing, in fact, insisted it will “fight to the end” after Trump threatened an extra 50% tariff on China if it doesn’t drop plans to retaliate against the additional U.S. tariffs.

“The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake,...

Just as things were starting to look up at the box office, Hollywood may have just hit another massive roadblock. President Donald Trump has been unleashing a wave of tariffs on countries all around the world, with China getting hit particularly hard. The political strategy has created tensions between the U.S. and other countries as a trade war looms. The Chinese government, in response, might even block Hollywood movies from playing in the country entirely.

In a recent report from Bloomberg, it's explained that two very influential Chinese bloggers shared details regarding measures Chinese officials may take in response to Trump's tariffs. This list includes a "ban on Hollywood movies." While Hollywood films haven't made nearly as much money in China in the pandemic era, the country has a massive moviegoing audience. Case in point, "Ne Zha 2" made more than $2 billion in China alone this year. Certain Hollywood...

In light of President Donald Trump's upcoming widespread tariffs, which have already had devastating effects on the stock market, China is mulling over a drastic response that may end up affecting Hollywood films.A Minecraft Movie, the surprise hit of 2025, is well on its way to becoming one of the highest-grossing films in recent memory, partially due to its success overseas, especially in China. However, a new set of provisions could eradicate that market for the foreseeable future if Trump's tariffs stay in place.

As reported by Bloomberg News, two well-renowned Chinese journalists published a list of measures that are being discussed in response to the tariff increase. Among those listed is "reducing or banning the import of U.S. films," which means upcoming movies set to release later this year would lose one of the largest theatrical markets in the world. With Minecraft having success in China, opening in first place with $14.5 million,...

A Minecraft Movie North America Box Office: Weekend Actuals Are Higher(Photo Credit –Facebook)

A Minecraft Movie is a new sensation and discussion point among viewers for all the right reasons. The film had already been a winner with its opening weekend numbers, but the actual numbers are even higher than the initial figures. It has officially become the biggest opening for video game adaptations by beating The Super Mario Bros Movie’s debut by a considerable margin. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The movie is winning in almost every region, especially China. It pushed the Chinese phenomenon Ne Zha 2 from its #1 spot this weekend when the Minecraft movie opened in the theatres. In Europe, the PG game adaptation has also registered the biggest opening for a Hollywood movie. Jason Momoa and Jack Black have achieved individual feats with this latest release.

Jason Momoa and Jack Black starrer A...

Captain America: Brave New World Worldwide Box Office: 8th Weekend Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The MCU movie Captain America: Brave New World hangs in there despite losing theatres in the United States and the new releases. Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford’s film benefited from Snow White’s lousy performance, but not anymore. Captain America 4 suffered by the release of A Minecraft Movie and A Working Man. It is nowhere near the domestic top-five charts. Keep scrolling for more.

For the unversed, the fourth Captain America movie was made on a reported budget of $180 million, which is undoubtedly a large amount but still less than many MCU movies. Some of the Marvel Studio films’ budgets often go past $250 million. However, this number excludes the marketing cost. The movie features an exciting cast comprising Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford.

After the worst March the box office has seen in decades, Warner Bros./Legendary’s “A Minecraft Movie” earned the biggest opening weekend since “Moana 2” with $163 million domestic and $314 million worldwide.

Not even the most optimistic projections had “Minecraft” surpassing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” for the biggest opening weekend ever for a video game adaptation. No one imagined that its domestic launch would be larger than what all movies grossed in the two previous weekends combined.

But this “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”-esque adventure film from “Napoleon Dynamite” director Jared Hess, starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Danielle Brooks as humans who enter the world of “Minecraft,” saw an explosion in presales in the final days leading up to its release, and has been further lifted by social media buzz that, while not always praising the film’s quality, has hailed the experience of watching “Minecraft” in a crowded theater.

Paul Walter Hauser, the performer known for his roles in films like Richard Jewell and TV shows like Cobra Kai and Black Bird, recently had his breakout voice role in 2024's Inside Out 2. He was responsible for bringing to life the endearing character known as Embarrassment, yet another of the various emotions that make Riley's world a very complicated one. Hauser is currently promoting his role in Major League Wrestling (Mlw), and used the opportunity to address the return of the Pixar franchise for a possible Inside Out 3.

Hauser spoke to ComicBook.com to promote his latest participation in the wrestling world. Although he was eventually eliminated from Battle Riot VII, Hauser looks unstoppable in his rise to become a huge wrestling personality (he plays himself in the wrestling ring). It was during the interview that he was asked about the possibility of reprising his character Embarrassment in a future Inside Out sequel,...

A Minecraft Movie China Box Office: Opening Weekend Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Jason Momoa and Jack Black, along with their team, are enjoying the great reception their A Minecraft Movie received at the box office. It is all the more notable in China because of its dominance over the Chinese juggernaut Ne Zha 2. After 68 days, some films have finally removed the Ne Zha sequel from its top spot. The feat continued throughout this weekend as the Minecraft movie registered a spectacular debut in China. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The PG-rated film has beaten the opening weekend collection of The Super Mario Bros Movie and Inside Out 2. However, the movie by Jared Hess did not beat the global debut of The Super Mario Bros Movie. According to reports, it was made on a budget of $150 million, and the film has successfully recovered that twice in its opening weekend only.

Ne Zha 2 China Box Office Update After 68 Days ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Ne Zha 2 has finally calmed down. After ruling at the #1 spot at the box office in China, it has been dethroned and slipped to the lower spot. The film is settling at the box office, but it will not be forgotten, for it has achieved something unimaginable. The film completed nine weeks at the cinemas in China and is still earning north of $1 million, which is a remarkable feat in itself. Keep scrolling for the latest deets.

The Ne Zha sequel has been thwarted by the Hollywood PG-rated film A Minecraft Movie, which debuted at #1 in China. China is one of the biggest markets, and the region contributes huge revenue. This was proved when the Ne Zha sequel crossed the $1 billion mark and the $2 billion milestone. No movie in any region has ever done it. The film still...

A Minecraft Movie Worldwide Box Office: Debut Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

It is done. The verdict for the global opening of A Minecraft Movie is finally here, and it is outstanding. The film has scored winning numbers at the box office, including in IMAX, on its debut weekend, registering the biggest one ever for Jason Momoa in Europe. The videogame adaptation has finally ended the dry spell at the theatres, and the exhibitors will finally get a true blockbuster. Scroll below for the deets.

It is an American fantasy adventure comedy based on the 2011 video game Minecraft by Mojang Studios. Jared Hess directed it, and the reported budget of the film is an estimated $150 million. It has already collected twice the considerable production budget. The film is on its way to becoming the highest-grossing Hollywood film of this year.

According to Deadline‘s report, A Minecraft Movie collected a spectacular...

Despicable Me Tetralogy Box Office( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The audience always welcomes animated films with warm hugs. Despicable Me is among the most popular franchises and the highest-grossing animation, with over $5 billion in collections at the worldwide box office. The franchise has six movies in total, including two prequels. However, we will discuss the main franchise in this tetralogy box office series. The most recent release was 2024’s Despicable Me 4. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The franchise kicked off in 2010 with the first film. It achieved several feats on its release, including becoming one of the year’s highest-grossing films. It was the first film produced by Illumination Entertainment and became one of the most successful debuts for a new animation studio. The first film set a new benchmark for non-Disney and non-Pixar animation success domestically. Its massive success and popularity paved the way for such a popular franchise,...

Disney's Inside Out 3 gets a promising update, with one of the franchise stars recently sharing news of a new movie. 2024's Inside Out 2 grossed over $1.69 billion worldwide.

Paul Walter Hauser, the voice of the new emotion Embarrassment in Inside Out 2, recently shared with ComicBook.com about a potential third movie on the way. "Crazy, it’s nutty. I heard we might be doing another one. I don’t know when or how or where, but the movie just resonated with people of all ages and it really, I think what’s different about the Inside Out movies from other animated films is it doesn’t really treat children as, as less intellectual beings."

Inside Out 2 saw Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Lewis Black return as Joy, Sadness and Anger respectively. The sequel to 2015's Inside Out, the second film saw the beloved emotions that control young Riley joined by hilarious new emotions,...

Captain America: Brave New World North America Box Office: Set To Hit $200 Million ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Captain America: Brave New World lost more than five hundred theatres this week, and with that, it has moved closer to the $200 million milestone. But will it be able to hit that mark this weekend? It will be the last major milestone of the MCU flick starring Anthony Mackie in the lead role. Another interesting feat it might achieve in its domestic run is to surpass a Chris Hemsworth starrer Marvel movie. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The movie is nowhere near the global collections of the last MCU release, Deadpool and Wolverine. It might even impact the upcoming releases, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as people might lose faith in the MCU. The Marvel Studios films have struggled to attract audiences like they used to in the pre-Avengers: Endgame era.

A Minecraft Movie China Box Office: Dethrones Ne Zha 2 From The #1 Spot (Photo Credit –Facebook)

A Minecraft Movie has done something unbelievable; it moved the Chinese juggernaut Ne Zha 2 from the top spot at the Chinese box office. The film had been isolated at the top spot for nine weeks or more. It is a global phenomenon that has finally slowed down. It is the highest-grossing film of this year, and although Jason Momoa’s videogame adaptation might not be able to surpass the Ne Zha sequel, what it has done is also notable. Scroll below for the deets.

The Ne Zha sequel has changed the perception of distributors by grossing more than $2 billion from a single market. In under 15 days, the movie emerged as the highest-grossing film in a single market, surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ US haul with its $1 billion-plus Chinese gross. It is the...

We’ve confirmed that VFX-less copies of Warner Bros/Legendary’s A Minecraft Movie has been leaked online. Who the hell wants to watch that? The situation is under control with the studios Whac-a-Mole-ing them out. We’re told that it appears most of the links have been expunged.

There were screenshots and footage from the Jared Hess-directed title shared on social media platforms. This is par for the course when a popular movie opens: piracy ensues. Note this wasn’t a situation of a movie being shot in a movie theater, then seeped online, rather a security breach in a cut of the pic getting out to the public.

At the same time, online piracy amped up during the pandemic, and was a chief reason why the studios backed away from their “brilliant” (I say that sarcastically) idea to go theatrical day-and-date with movies; Disney’s Black Widow...

The UK-Ireland box office suffered a slow month in March, with takings dropping 35% compared to March 2024.

The £50.7m total in Marchbrought year-to-date takings to £245.5m - on a par with 2024, having been 15% up at the end of Fabruary.

The drop is partly explained by the school Easter holidays, which are yet to occur in 2025 and fell during March 2024; but also by a weaker release slate, with Dune: Part Two contributing £22.2m in March 2024.

UK-Ireland March 2025 top 10 RankTitle (origin)DistributorRelease dateMarch total2025 total 1

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy(Fr-uk-us) Universal 14/2/25 £7.5m £45.8m 2 Disney’s Snow White(US) Disney 21/3/25 £7.3m £7.3m...

Disney’s Snow White has passed another box office milestone as it prepares for its third full weekend in theaters. At the time of writing, Snow White has collected $70 million at the domestic box office thanks to a strong performance on Wednesday, April 2, that saw it earn $850,000. Snow White has also added $75 million at the international box office to help its global haul reach $146 million. It will certainly pass $150 million globally by the end of the weekend, despite increasing competition from A Working Man and The Chosen, while also fending off A Minecraft Movie. Snow White stars Rachel Zegler in the lead role with Gal Gadot playing the Evil Queen, and the film was directed by Marc Webb.

Snow White is not only the #1 movie at the worldwide box office this week, but it is also the #5 biggest movie of the year at the global box office. At the domestic box office,...

Director James Cameron can rest easy, at least for the time being. He's still responsible for three of the four highest-grossing films in history, with his 1997 classic Titanic fending off competition from China's Ne Zha 2. For a while, it looked like the animated sequel might sink Titanic's record, but with over $100 million still separating them and Ne Zha 2's theatrical run basically coming to an end, it looks like the rankings will remain unchanged. Released during the lucrative Chinese New Year period some months ago, Ne Zha 2broke numerous box office records in its run, ultimately becoming the fifth-biggest film in history.

The movie recently passed the $2.1 billion mark at the global box office, but still trails Titanic's $2.2 billion haul. Interestingly, Ne Zha 2 was able to sail past Titanic's original run, because the blockbuster's $2.2 billion figure includes revenue generated from multiple re-releases over the years.

After a streak of less than $100 million+ weekends at the box office, the film industry turns its lonely eyes to Warner Bros, which has a potential gold mine in Legendary’s A Minecraft Movie with an outlook of $140M worldwide this weekend in its opening frame. Somewhere, somehow, this will overindex, either overseas and/or domestic. Warners is seeing $65M stateside and $65M abroad for $130M. Right now, we’re giving overseas the edge given the funky marketplace in the U.S. and Canada.

Spring break is still happening, with 14% K-12 schools off according to Comscore, and following Disney’s Captain America: Brave New World, boy, does the theatrical business need a hit at a time when domestic is dragging (off 11% in Q1 2025 behind the same period in 2024). Minecraft also comes at a much needed time for Warners, which has suffered two auteurish bombs in Barry Levinson’s $50M The Alto Knights...

Solo Leveling, Crunchyroll, Record-Breaking Anime(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Solo Leveling’s second season has been nothing short of a phenomenon, smashing records left, right and center while setting new benchmarks in the anime world. With its finale now behind us, the series has clinched yet another monumental achievement, one that cements its dominance even further.

Crunchyroll Milestone: 700K Ratings and Counting

Crunchyroll has confirmed that Solo Leveling is the first anime to cross the 700K ratings mark on the platform, with a staggering 710.3K ratings. Not only did it leave behind some of the biggest names in anime, but the gap between it and the runner-up, One Piece, is enormous, 95k ratings, to be exact.

Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan are trailing behind but with such a significant lead, Solo Leveling’s reign over this record is unlikely to be challenged anytime soon.

Solo Leveling is the first anime...

Kinepolis and Imax have set a multi-territory expansion of their longstanding global partnership with nine new Imax with Laser systems across Europe, the U.S. and Canada. Under the agreement, Kinepolis will almost double the size of its Imax offering in Europe to 13 locations, including seven new sites across France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands.

The announcement was made at CinemaCon which begins in Las Vegas today. Imax is coming off a strong first quarter at the global box office, including the blockbuster success of China’s Ne Zha 2, and is heading into the summer season with more Filmed for Imax releases than ever, including Sinners, Thunderbolts*, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, How to Train Your Dragon, Superman and The Fantastic Four.

The deal with Kinepolis builds on a previous agreement signed in 2023 for eight Imax locations, almost all of which were installed the same year. Inclusive of today’s deal,...

Features the voices of: Lü Yanting, Han Mo, Chen Hao, Lü Qi, Wang Deshun | Written and Directed by Jiao Zi

For much of the western world, Ne Zha 2 only caught our attention with the news of how successful and record-breaking this animated film was. After grossing over $2 billion, it has become the fifth highest grossing film of all time (and the highest one not directed by James Cameron or the Russos), making it quite the phenomenon before it even reached western screens.

For anybody who likes to catch-up on a series before the new instalment, that will be difficult as 2019’s Ne Zha is currently unavailable on UK streaming services and did not have a physical media release over here. Luckily, the opening catches viewers up with the first film’s story, although the onslaught of exposition can make the introduction feel overwhelming.

Following on from the preceding film,...

The Chinese are so bad at marketing this film that a lot still might have not heard about it (they live in their own space anyway). About how it is now the highest grossing animated movie of all time and the 5th highest grossing movie of all time joining the honor roll of Avatar, Avengers Endgame, Avatar Way of Water and Titanic. It really went under everyone's radar who rely on the Hollywood machine for their usual staple of blockbuster movies. But there comes a time when you get fed up with the constant bombardment of unimaginative products from Hollywood in recent years. Remakes, live-action treatments, sequels no one want, nostalgia baits and so on.

Ne Zha 2 came in as a breath of fresh air in this environment of mediocre Hollywood blockbuster content. And it deserves every penny it is getting right now.

The first act starts off with...

UK-Ireland top five Mar 28-30, 2025 RankFilm (origin)DistributorMar 28-30 grossTotalWeek 1 Snow White (US) Disney £2m £6.8m 2 2 A Working Man (US-uk)

Warner Bros £658,134 £658,134 1 3 Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy (UK-Fr-us)

Universal £561,120 £45.5m 7 4 Novocaine (US)

Paramount £442,000 £544,000 1 5 Black Bag (US)

Universal £421,458 £3.1m 3

Disney’s Snow White live-action remake topped the UK-Ireland box office for a second weekend, with A Working Man starring Jason Statham as the top new title.

Directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler, Snow White added just over £2m on its second session – a 48% drop that brought it to £6.8m. It is down on the £16.2m of 2023’s The Little Mermaid,...

Ne Zha 2 Worldwide Box Office: 9th Sunday Update (Photo Credit –YouTube)

There is no end to minting cash for the Chinese juggernaut, Ne Zha 2. It is tip-toeing near the global haul of James Cameron’s Titanic and might be the ultimate goal of the Chinese feature in its box office run. It continues to earn impressive collections at the Chinese box office and has recently completed two months. Keep scrolling for the deets.

Surpassing Titanic’s global haul might be difficult and impossible at this point, but it is not giving up. The film is set to be released in India as well this coming month. It remains isolated at #1 on the Chinese box office list. This weekend, A Working Man debuted at the Chinese box office. It opened at the #2 position.

Based on trade analyst Luiz Fernando’s report, the Ne Zha sequel collected $3.1 million over 114K screenings...

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, it seemed as if Pixar could do no wrong. The animation studio, in league with Disney, pushed forward the idea of all-computer-animated feature films back in 1995 with the release of "Toy Story," gaining a lot of critical attention for its clever writing and penchant for heart-rending sentimentality. It wouldn't be until the release of "Cars 2" in 2011 that critics would begin to cool to the studio. And even still, "Cars 2" was a $559 million hit.

In the 2010s, Pixar began to skew further and further away from original ideas and lean heavier into sequels or prequels to its earlier hits. Indeed, of the 10 Pixar features released in that decade, six were part of an established franchise. Some of these films were excellent, but the studio nevertheless seemed a few years beyond its creative peak.

The first half of the 2020s was a mixed bag for Pixar,...

China’s box office wrapped up March with a relatively quiet weekend, led once again by Cococartoon’s animated juggernaut “Ne Zha 2,” which grossed RMB62.2 million ($8.6 million) for the March 28–30 period. The film’s cumulative gross now stands at $2.09 billion, according to Artisan Gateway, extending its lead as the highest-grossing release of the year.

Jason Statham-starring action thriller “A Working Man,” released by Black Bear, debuted in second place with a modest $3.3 million. Despite the soft launch, the film marked the weekend’s strongest new release.

Hanna Pictures’ “The River of Fury” dropped to third place, earning $2.1 million. The film’s cumulative stands at $5.4 million after two weeks in release. Directed by Feng Yongqin, the film is a crime thriller where the mysterious disappearance of a woman is related to a series of murders.

As One Production’s “Detective Chinatown 1900” continues to hold steady in fourth place with $1.8 million,...

UK-based film data and insights specialist Gower Street Analytics has revised upwards its 2025 global box office forecast by $1.1bn to $34.1bn.

In December, Gower Street projected 2025 would gross $33bn. The company changed its estimate in light of a strong 2025 first quarter of results from China, led by the animated phenomenon Ne Zha 2, now the fifth highest-grossing film of all time globally on $2.08bn as of March 24.

China’s 2025 projection has been revised upwards by $1bn to $7.6bn. The new estimate would see China finish 30% ahead of 2024 (up 29% at current exchange rates). It would still be 1% behind 2023, though this would...

UK-based film data and insights specialist Gower Street Analytics has revised its 2025 global box office prediction, boosting it by $1.1bn to $34.1bn.

In December, Gower Street predicted 2025 would gross $33bn. The company changed its estimate in light of a strong first quarter of results from China, led by the animated phenomenon Ne Zha 2, now the fifth highest-grossing film of all-time globally on $2.08bn as of March 24.

China’s 2025 projection has been revised upwards by $1bn to $7.6bn. The new estimate would see China finish 30% ahead of 2024 (up 29% at current exchange rates). It would still be 1% behind 2023, though this would...

Updated: As Hollywood begins to descend upon Las Vegas ahead of the start of CinemaCon tomorrow, it was a mixed bag at the international box office this weekend. Jason Statham-starrer A Working Man muscled in with a $30.2M global bow, including $15M from overseas markets, while Snow White saw a 48% drop in the offshore sophomore session.

At the same time, Gower Street Analytics has increased its global 2025 forecast to $34.1B. Though that revision is largely down to the overperformance of Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2, there’s plenty to look forward to on the horizon – much of which we’ll get a glimpse at and be reporting on from here in Las Vegas this week.

Looking for now at this weekend overseas, Disney’s Snow White was the top studio movie of the session, adding $22.1M from 51 offshore markets. That takes the running international total to $76.3M and global to $143.1M.

With the curtain set to go up on CinemaCon on Monday, Gower Street Analytics has increased its 2025 global box office forecast by a little over $1B. From an original projection of $33B as we reported in December last year, Gower Street now sees 2025 coming in at $34.1B.

The estimate would rep a 13% year-on-year hike from 2024 (+10% at current exchange rates), and a 0.5% increase from 2023 (+3% at today’s rates). In total, the 2025 estimate would be 13% behind the average of the three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019) at current exchange rates.

The higher 2025 projection is based on first quarter overall actuals and, more specifically, on the unexpected outsized performance of Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2. That phenom this weekend crossed the Rmb 15 billion mark in China ($2.1B using today’s rates), while it has also amassed an estimated $50M+ outside of the home market. Resultantly, Gower has upped its China 2025 forecast by $1B to $7.6B.

Gower Street Analytics has increased its 2025 global box office projection to $34.1 billion, up from its original December forecast of $33 billion, largely due to the fiery performance of Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2,” now the fifth highest-grossing film of all-time globally.

The revised numbers, released just as the film industry gathers in Las Vegas for CinemaCon (March 31-April 4), project a 13% year-on-year increase from 2024 and a marginal 0.5% increase from 2023. Despite the upward revision, the forecast still sits 13% behind the average of the last three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019) at current exchange rates.

China’s box office projection received the most significant adjustment, jumping $1 billion to $7.6 billion thanks entirely to “Ne Zha 2.” This revised estimate would place China’s theatrical market 30% ahead of 2024 but still slightly behind 2023 by 1% (though converting to a 1% increase at current exchange rates).

Meanwhile, the North American market forecast saw a slight downward revision from $9.7 billion to $9.5 billion.

A Working Man China Box Office: 2-Day Cume Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

A Working Man is working its way spectacularly at the box office in China. It is expected to be the best three-day second weekend of the Disney movie Snow White. It is earning winning numbers in China. The action thriller is led by Jason Statham and might become as successful as or more than his last film, The Beekeeper. The movie has received opened to mixed reviews. Keep scrolling for more.

The movie is expected to beat the industry’s expectations at the box office in North America. The actioner debuted at the box office at #1 this Friday. It bested Snow White on Friday with its opening-day collection, while the Disney feature crashed down by 77.2% from last weekend when it opened in the theatres. It has been released in 3,262 places in North America.

According to Luiz Fernando’s report,...

Mufasa: The Lion King Worldwide Box Office (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Mufasa: The Lion King, released in the cinemas last year, was a significant box office success. It worried people when Mufasa opened with low numbers at the US box office. Despite a weak plot, it showed the power of family movies and great visuals. It is suffering at the box office now because of its digital streaming, and as it prepares to bid goodbye at the cinemas, let’s take a quick look at how much the movie is trailing behind its blockbuster predecessor, The Lion King.

The Lion King was released in 2019, and it is a photorealistically animated remake of the traditionally animated 1994 film. It was a huge box office success and is also one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. It was directed by Jon Favreau featuring the voices of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor,...

Captain America: Brave New World Worldwide Box Office: Beats Eternals’ Global Run (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Captain America: Brave New World is slowly achieving new milestones at the worldwide box office. It has crossed the global haul of one of the MCU’s controversial movies, Eternals. The film is controversial because it did not earn as much as other films and was also not met with positive reviews. Anthony Mackie’s film is trying its best not to become one of the five lowest-grossing MCU films.

Eternals was released in 2021 and featured a grand cast of the top Hollywood stars. It featured Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. The MCU movie featured the immortal beings who came out of hiding after thousands of years to protect Earth from their ancient counterparts, the Deviants.