10 top grossing films of 2019

Source: China Daily (12/13/19)
Year-ender: 10 highest-grossing films of 2019
By Li Wenrui

Posters of six films on the list. [Photo/Mtime]

Editor’s Note: Despite the “cold winter” theory stemming from the lackluster start of 2019, China’s film industry has come through with a chain of homegrown blockbusters and impressive revenues. On Dec 6, the Chinese annual box office crossed the mark of 60 billion yuan ($8.53 billion) — 24 days earlier than the previous year according to China Movie Data Information Network.

At present, 78 pictures exceeded 100 million yuan ($14.22 million), and among these 15 grossed over 1 billion yuan ($142.2 million) and 6 over 2 billion ($284.5 million). In the last fortnight of 2019, highly-anticipated films like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Ip Man 4 will be screened in the Chinese mainland. So the annual box office total is waiting to be unveiled.

Eight of the top moneymakers are domestic productions, such as the phenomenal Ne Zha, the sci-fi saga The Wandering Earth and romantic crime coming of age film Better Days. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, two high-profile pictures My People, My Country and The Captain seized a considerable market share. Moviegoers in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen contributed most to the national box office.

Here are the 10 highest-grossing films in 2019 thus far. Which is your favorite? What are your expectations for Chinese cinema in 2020?

1. Ne Zha (哪吒之魔童降世)

Box office returns: 4.97 billion yuan ($710 million)

Loosely based on the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel Fengshen Yanyi (The Investiture of the Gods), the film is about mythological figure Ne Zha who fights against fate.

2. The Wandering Earth (流浪地球)

Box office returns: 4.65 billion yuan ($650 million)

As the sun is dying, people all around the world build giant thrusters to move Earth out of its orbit and sail to a new star system. Yet the 2,500-year journey comes with unexpected dangers, and in order to save humanity, a group of young people must fight hard for the survival of humankind.

3. Avengers: Endgame

Box office returns: 4.24 billion yuan ($600 million)

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of their remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.

4. My People, My Country (我和我的祖国)

Box office returns: 2.99 billion yuan ($420 million)

A seven-part anthology film, it depicts seven significant historical moments since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The film is directed by seven prestigious directors: Chen Kaige, Zhang Yibai, Guan Hu, Xue Xiaolu, Xu Zheng, Ning Hao and Wen Muye, and stars many of China’s top actors.

5. The Captain (中国机长)

Box office returns: 2.87 billion yuan ($410 million)

Starring actor Zhang Hanyu, the film is based on the story of heroic Sichuan Airlines pilot Liu Chuanjian, whose emergency landing last year marked one of the biggest miracles in China’s civil aviation history.

6. Crazy Alien (疯狂的外星人)

Box office returns: 2.2 billion yuan ($310 million)

A monkey trainer’s act goes wrong after an alien crash-lands on Earth and injures his monkey. Desperate to perform, he attempts to train the alien instead, but is punished after the alien regains his powers.

7. Pegasus (飞驰人生)

Box office returns: 1.71 billion yuan ($240 million)

Directed and written by Han Han, the sports comedy portrays an old-time racing champion trying to return to the race track.

8. The Bravest (烈火英雄)

Box office returns: 1.69 billion yuan ($240 million)

Adapted from ethnic Mongolian writer Baoerji Yuanye’s non-fiction work Tears Are the Deepest Water, the moving story depicts a group of heroic firefighters.

9. Better Days (少年的你)

Box office returns: 1.54 billion yuan ($220 million)

A bullied teenage girl forms an unlikely friendship with a rebellious young man who protects her from her assailants, all while she copes with the pressures of university entrance examinations.

10. Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw

Box office returns: 1.43 billion yuan ($200 million)

Lawman Luke Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and outcast Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) form an unlikely alliance when a genetically enhanced cybernetic villain threatens the future of humanity.

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