‘Successor’ Premiere Shoves ‘Despicable Me 4’ to Bronze

Hey folks! Guess who’s back to spill the tea on the latest box office drama? It’s your girl, Hollywood Hrishita, here to give you the lowdown on the latest numbers from our friends in China. Buckle up, because it’s a wild ride! 🎢

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"Successor": The Not-So-Poor Man’s Victory 🏆

So, guess what? "Successor," a comedy-drama straight outta China, just crushed it at the box office this weekend. With a cool RMB358 million ($50.4 million) in the bag, this flick about a poor dad, a hardworking mom, and their academically gifted son is giving everyone else a run for their money. Literally.

The plot? Ma Chenggang and Ma Chunlan, our heroic parents, and their donkey (yes, you read that right) are dreaming big through their son, Ma Jiye. The kid’s a genius, but as he grows up, things get… weird. Sounds like every family gathering ever, right? 🤷‍♀️

And oh, it’s co-directed by Yan Fei and Peng Damo, the same folks who brought us "Hello, Mr Billionaire" and "Goodbye, Mr Loser." Sounds like they can’t decide on their greetings, but hey, they sure know how to make a hit!

The Crystal Ball Says…🔮

According to our friends at Maoyan, "Successor" is set to keep raking in the dough, with a lifetime gross prediction of RMB1.6 billion ($220 million). Not too shabby for a movie about a guy and his donkey, eh?

The Fall of Silence 📉

"A Place Called Silence," last week’s champ, has been dethroned but not without a fight. It only dropped 22% week-on-week and bagged another $32 million, bringing its total to $121 million since its July 3 release. Not bad, Silence, not bad at all. 👏

Minions Mayhem: Despicable Me 4 Falls Short 😬

"Despicable Me 4" hit the screens with a thud rather than a bang, pulling in just $17.7 million over three days. Compared to "Despicable Me 3" in 2017, which opened with $64 million, it’s like comparing a firecracker to a nuclear bomb. Maoyan forecasts it to hit RMB370 million ($51 million), which is… okay, I guess. 🤷‍♂️

Jackie Chan’s Time-Traveling Antics 🕰️

Jackie Chan’s "A Legend" opened on Wednesday and managed $2.8 million over the weekend. Including previews, it’s sitting at $9.8 million. The movie, directed by Stanley Tong, has been getting flak for using AI and VFX to make Jackie look young again. Come on, Jackie, you’re a legend—you don’t need CGI to prove it! 😒

Pixar’s "Inside Out 2" Slips 😢

Pixar’s "Inside Out 2" isn’t faring much better, dropping to fifth place with $2.3 million for the weekend. Since its June 21 release, it has accumulated $43.1 million. Looks like Joy needs a pep talk! 😟

The Big Picture: China’s Box Office Boom 📈

Thanks to the top three, China’s weekend box office reached $111 million, bringing the year-to-date total to $3.61 billion. That’s still 14% behind last year’s numbers and lagging behind North America’s $4.11 billion. Come on, China, step up your game! 🏃‍♂️

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Moral of the Story: The Donkey Always Wins 🐴

In the wild world of cinema, never underestimate the power of a donkey. Hollywood might have the glitz and glam, but sometimes all you need is a hardworking mom, a dream, and a trusty donkey to steal the show.

Until next time, folks! Keep your popcorn ready and your expectations low. 🎬

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Tags: #BoxOffice #ChineseCinema #DespicableMe4 #JackieChan #HollywoodHrishita