‘Avatar 2 Gets Rare China Release Extension Over Lunar New Year Holiday (Exclusive)
© Provided by The Hollywood Reporter James Cameron's Avatar 2 was unfortunate to be released in China, the world's second largest film market, just as the country was hit by a devastating wave of COVID-19 infections. Now some luck.
Beijing's film regulator on Tuesday granted Disney a tent to show on Chinese screens for another 30 days , two Beijing sources familiar with the decision told The Hollywood Reporter.
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China's film import system allows foreign films to be screened in the country for 30 days. Avatar 2 was released in China at the same time as North America on December 16th, so the original release will end on January 15th. The film grossed nearly $200 million domestically, making it the highest-grossing domestic production in Hollywood. Pandemic time but much less than initially expected due to the ongoing COVID outbreak.
Avatar 2 is sure to see its screen share drop, as many famous Chinese pavilions appear on January 22, the first day of the week-long Chinese New Year. Most notable among the new Chinese contenders is The Wandering Earth 2 , a prequel to China's first sci-fi movie, which earned $700 million in 2019. Spending on shows during the holidays could generate tens of millions in additional ticket sales, insiders say. The film received exceptionally high social ratings from Chinese audiences – 9.1/10 on leading domestic ticketing programs Maoyan and Taopiaopiao, and 8/10 on the influential review website Douban – and Cameron's films have a reputation for slow productions and long waits.
Film industry officials in Beijing, contacted by THR on Tuesday, said they were surprised by the film bureau's delayed request for more time on Avatar 2 . While Hollywood films are sometimes renewed, Beijing routinely bans all foreign films during China's major national holidays, allowing the local industry to dominate the box office. Hollywood has long protested in vain against blackouts like the one against competition and China's ties to the World Trade Organization.
"It's a weird decision," a showrunner said when asked how many screens Avatar 2 could expect over the holiday season. "We don't know," they added.
A spokesperson for Disney Asia confirmed the extended release late Tuesday.
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