HOLLYWOOD returned to the top of China’s box office for the first time in nearly two months, as “The Predator” opened to a modest US$20.7 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates. Leading box-office tracker Artisan Gateway had the film earning a slightly smaller US$18.1 million, however.

Either way, the rather downbeat total reflects a broader deceleration in Chinese box office growth this fall. Chinese animation “Crystal Sky of Yesterday” opened in second place with just US$6.9 million.

After a period of high local product quality over the summer, fall 2018 has seen a dearth of Chinese hits. Bona Film Group’s Hong Kong crime thriller “Project Gutenberg” has been the biggest earner, totaling US$172.3 million and adding US$6.1 million in the last frame. But that healthy haul is no match for the US$334 million earned by Chinese comedy “Never Say Die” in October 2017.

Warner Bros.’ animation “Smallfoot” landed in fourth place for the weekend with just US$3.1 million, nudging its China total to US$7.8 million. Indian import, “Hichki,” part of an ongoing trend of Bollywood market strength in China, added US$2.6 million for a US$16.8 million total.

(SD-Agencies)