'Avengers' Kicks Up A Storm In China

MAY 10, 2012 - Marvel's The Avengers picked up 120 million yuan (about US$20 million or RM59.55 million) on its opening weekend, according to China Film Biz. This marks the third highest opening for the film in any region, coming in behind the United States (US$200 million) and the United Kingdom (US$25.4 million).

The Avengers shrugged off the challenge of Peter Berg’s Battleship in China, although the 70 million yuan that the film picked up over the past week still lifted its takings to total 268 million yuan, which is the most ever for a Universal Pictures production in that country.

There are more blockbusters in store for Chinese cinema-goers soon, with the announcement that the worldwide smash hit The Hunger Games has been approved for release early in June and — a little further down the track — the Marvel comic machine that was behind The Avengers will head into the country as it shoots Iron Man 3 with the help of local production company DMG Entertainment. (From AFP)