Box Office Battle Continues to Rage in China

China's film industry heavyweights were hoping to prove their mettle this summer and everything seems to be going according to that very plan.

For while Hollywood blockbusters dominated box office returns over June and July, it has been a local production that has ruled ever since, according to figures released this week.

But, mainland Chinese film critics say Hollywood - as always - might still have the last laugh.

China's State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) this week announced that Hollywood's Toy Story 3 had picked up 64 million yuan (7.3 million euros) over June and July but had been eclipsed by China's Aftershock ever since, as it became the country's highest ever grossing film by topping the 532 million yuan (61 million euros) mark.

Figures for the Mandarin-language version of Disney's High School Musical - released last week - were unavailable following the mainland government's decision to shut cinemas at the weekend, in a mark of respect to those who died in the recent mudslides in Zhouqu county.

But that film will now face a four-pronged attack from foreign films over the next month. This week's release of Shrek Forever After will be followed by The Expendables (August 20), The Last Airbender (August 23) and The Charlemagne Code (August 26).

The latest installment of the Shrek franchise is expected to top the 100 million yuan (11.5 million euros) mark, but Chinese media analyst Zhang Nuo still believes the playing field in China has been altered.

"Overall foreign films are not winning big as more and more Chinese films come out touting big budgets and A-list Chinese casts, like Aftershock,'' Zhang told the Global Times.

Local films also have a helping hand in the form of the Chinese government, as film critic Yu Fan explained.
"Theaters and distributors have their ways to make sure that no imported films threaten domestic ones,'' said Yu. "For instance, theaters pushed back hits like Shrek and Inception until later releases to give Aftershock an edge.''