Most films available currently are re-runs of popular recent Chinese and American films, with several new Chinese releases planned in the coming weeks.
More than 500 cinema screens in China have reopened months after the coronavirus threat began to recede in the country. According to financial publication Caixin, there are now 507 screens open, which is still less than 5% of all cinemas operating prior to the virus outbreak.
Data from private-sector ticketing firm Maoyan showed that venues had opened in five provinces: Xinjiang; Shangdong, southern, landlocked province Sichuan; and two coastal regions, Fujian and Guangdong, which border Hong Kong. The data showed that nationwide revenue on Friday totalled less than $2,000, Variety reported. In Fujian and Guangdong, not a single ticket was sold.
The cinemas are currently showing old box office hits, rather than new releases to lure audiences back to cinemas and more are expected to open in the coming weeks.
These include blockbusters such as Wolf Totem, new releases like Green Book, and a re-release of the first Harry Potter film. All profits will go to cinemas, with distributors and producers waiving their cut.
