Franchise cost surpasses $6 billion mark
Smashed Records: 'F9' Rakes in $135M in China Over Weekend
Wow, talk about a high-octane start! Over the weekend, the eighth installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise, aka "F9," made a fiery entrance, raking in an astounding $135 million in China alone. According to Deadline, this stellar opening has catapulted the franchise's cumulative box office to an impressive six billion dollars internationally.
During its opening run in only eight markets, "F9" clocked in with a jaw-dropping $162.4 million, with China taking the biggest chunk of the pie. Local experts are revving up their engines, anticipating that "F9" will finish its run in China with a staggering $250 million, making it the first Hollywood film to achieve such a feat during the pandemic era.
But wait, there's more! You might think this is impressive, but let's put it into perspective. The last time an American film popped over $100 million in a single weekend was none other than the Marvel comic book adaptation, "Avengers: Endgame." So, it's safe to say the "Fast & Furious" crew is cruising in lightning-fast style.
American audiences will see "F9" revving up at theaters later in June, 2021. But if these figures are anything to go by, the film's huge success in Asian markets, particularly China, provides a glimmer of hope for Hollywood films to roar back into full strength.
Fun Facts:- If "F9" manages to score the anticipated $250 million in China, it will join "Avatar," "Silent Witness," and "The Wandering Earth" as the fourth film to do so.- "F9" currently holds the title for the second-highest Universal opening in China, out-performing the $153 million gross of "The Grinch" (2018).- Several movies, including "Hi, Mom" (2021) and "Ne Zha 2" (2025), have seen impressive success in China during the pandemic era. However, these films were primarily domestic productions with Chinese casts, demonstrating the Chinese audience's passion for homegrown content.
- Despite being a worldwide phenomenon, the success of "F9" in China has left some audiences furious, with many arguing that it's skewing the markets in favor of Hollywood.
- Amidst the pandemic, the soaring box office numbers of "F9" have fueled speculation that the revival of billion-dollar movies-and-tv franchises is imminent.
- Just as "Fast & Furious" shattered records with its impressive earnings in Asia, the next big hit in entertainment could emerge from unexpected sources.
- As "F9" proves the resilience of American films, local Chinese productions like "Ne Zha 2" and "Hi, Mom" are setting new standards within the Chinese entertainment market, demonstrating that the appetite for both Hollywood and homegrown content remains unquenchable.
