All the top 10 box office winners for 2020 were domestic films. Last year, domestic films accounted for 84 per cent of 2020's total box office of 20.4 billion yuan, according to figures from China Film Administration.
The franchise's performance in China is emblematic of the wider trend of Hollywood movies fast losing appeal with mainland audiences. Its eighth instalment took in 2.7 billion yuan in 2017 and its seventh, released in 2015, grossed 2.4 billion yuan. However, this seemingly glowing figure is a far cry from the China box office takings of the franchise's previous films.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has led to widespread entertainment industry suspension and folding-up of cinemas in the US, the news that Fast & Furious 9 racked up 1.2 billion yuan (US$187 million) at China's box office earlier this month provided a welcome boost to the ailing Hollywood industry. Nathalie Emmanuel and Vin Diesel in a still from Fast & Furious 9.
