Yeah, I think that it is true in SOME cases.
World of Warcraft is a well-known example. It only made $47 million domestically . . . but a staggering $213 million in China. When you add in the rest of its international earnings, it earned $386 million outside of the United States. In that case, it's definitely true that the international box office--thanks largely to China--saved that film.
So it is true in some specific instances that the Chinese box office is more important but i don't think it's true as a general statement. The Last Jedi, for instance, only made a measly $28 million in China. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation made $135 million in China, but that was less than the film's $195 million domestic take, so especially when you factor in that the cut from the Chinese box office is only 25% then that film's domestic box office take was definitely more important than China's contribution. And then you have films like Sicario, which did not play in China at all.
Personally, I was hoping that China would save Blade Runner 2049 but they failed miserably, adding only $11 million to that film's bottom line.
And yes, that fight scene was fucking awesome. Probably the best fight scene I've seen in the past few years.
reply
share