Current Events > F9 box office drops 85 percent in China amid weak reviews and Cena comments

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https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/f9-china-box-office-poor-reviews-john-cena-controversy-1234961123/

Chinese filmgoers have hit the breaks on Justin Lins F9. The Universal tentpole downshifted 85 percent in its second weekend, earning just $20.8 million compared to its $136 million roaring opening weekend.

After two laps, the Vin Diesel/John Cena action flick has totaled $185.3 million. Thats slightly ahead of where franchise spinoff Hobbs & Shaw was sitting at a similar point in its China run, but far weaker than the preceding franchise mainstays Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious, which topped out at $390.9 million in 2015 and $392.8 million in 2017, respectively. Chinese ticketing app Maoyan currently projects F9 to finish at $211.9 million certainly not a number to slouch at but far inferior to the franchises recent heights, especially since Chinas theatrical market is back to full earning capacity (See the $825 million earned by local comedy hit Hi, Mom in February).

Whether John Cenas humiliating Taiwan/China gaff has had anything to do with the F9s weak legs in the Middle Kingdom is difficult to determine. The Chinese market tends to be far more front-loaded and sensitive to real-time word of mouth than most territories, and F9 has been hit by withering reviews from the start. Its social scores on Maoyan are 7.5 and 5.5 on Douban lower than most major titles released this year. Still, earlier in its run the film was forecasted to earn significantly more, and Cenas public relations debacle certainly hasnt helped. The former wrestler referred to Taiwan as a country during a promotional interview, and then issued a groveling apology to outraged nationalistic Chinese fans for which he subsequently was widely derided in the West.

Japanese anime import Stand By Me Doraemon 2 opened in second place with $16.3 million, topping Paramounts horror sequel A Quiet Place 2, which debuted with $15 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway. The John Krasinski-directed sequel has been met with a somewhat middling response from critics and filmgoers in China 7.7 on Maoyan and 6.8 from Douban despite generating strong reviews in the U.S. Its still tracking relatively close to its predecessor, which opened with $17.5 million and finished with $34.5 million. Maoyan forecasts the sequel to top out at $32.3 million finish.

Fourth place went to Chinese romance Love Will Tear Us Apart, which earned $5.2 million for a $42.4 million total after eleven days in theaters. Zhang Yimous spy thriller Cliff Walkers fell from third place to fifth with a $4.2 million weekend. After four weeks in cinemas the film has reached $172 million, demonstrating the enduring box office appeal of the Chinese filmmaking veteran.

To date, Chinas box office has generated $3.97 billion in total ticket sales, just 5.7 percent behind the markets $4.21 billion running total at the same time in 2019.

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I wonder if this will affect his future in the franchise

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China is just the worst

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Time to bring Bautista as Dom's other distant brother for the sequel.
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Good.

The movie deserved to bomb after he cowardly walked back his comment. The damage was already done so stick by what's right.

Also movie's doing good in China is bad as it further beholds companies to alter and censor films to the Chinese governments liking.

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pikachupwnage posted...

Good.

The movie deserved to bomb after he cowardly walked back his comment. The damage was already done so stick by what's right.

Also movie's doing good in China is bad as it further beholds companies to alter and censor films to the Chinese governments liking.

Punish everyone involved just for 1 person? That's messed up.


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Remember when weirdos on CE said China doesnt cave to cancel woke culture lol. Yeah.

China is a totalitarian state. They are truly the enemy of democracy and freedom.

When people wake up and realize that the leaders of china are committed to worldwide hegemony the better.

Not the Chinese people, the leaders. Although I'm sure there are studies which show that the Chinese people are committed to worldwide dominance. I just don't know any.

Falun Gong baby.

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I wonder how much that controversy affected it, though. I imagine it didn't make it past the censors because of the subject matter.

Was still a bitch move from Cena.
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He apologized and China didn't care lol

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lordofmud posted...

Although I'm sure there are studies which show that the Chinese people are committed to worldwide dominance. I just don't know any.

lmao what

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At least the weak reviews are deserved. easily the worst F&F movie to date

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Welcome to the machine

WhT did Cena say?

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AteIierRyza3462 posted...

WhT did Cena say?

very sorry glorious overlords for mistakenly calling taiwan its own country pls allow citizens of glorious people's republic of china to come see my movie film thank you

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AteIierRyza3462 posted...

WhT did Cena say?

he said taiwan will be the first country to get to watch the movie

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