U.S. movies help drive Chinese box office over $1 billion

BEIJING -- China’s box office has made its first $1 billion for the year, crossing the mark in the week that ended Sunday with some help from “Robocop.�

Year-to-date box office receipts for the mainland -- the world’s second biggest movie market behind the United States -- now stands at $1.03 billion for 2014, film industry consulting firm Artisan Gateway said, a pace significantly ahead of 2013.

“Robocop,� Jose Padilha’s remake of Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 futuristic dystopia classic, took in $21.5 million in its second week in release, claiming the top spot. The MGM production has now grossed $42 million in China.

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug� pulled in $11 million during the week, taking the No. 2 spot. The film has now racked up $71.3 million in China, Artisan said.

REEL CHINA: Coverage of the film industry in China

Third place for the week went to the Robert De Niro-Michelle Pfeiffer starrer “The Family,� which took in $5.21 million in its first week of release, narrowly edging out two other newcomers. The Chinese rom-com “The Old Cinderella� and the Reel FX animated turkey tale “Free Birds� each took in $5.11 million to tie for fourth place.

This Friday will see the release of DreamWorks’ “Need for Speed,� starring Aaron Paul, and the Jason Statham actioner “Homefront.� Next week, Chinese audiences will get a look at South Korean director Joon-ho Bong’s “Snowpiercer,� starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton and Jamie Bell, which has yet to get a U.S. release. “Black Coal, Thin Ice,� the Chinese noir film that took home the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival this year, also arrives in theaters March 21.

On March 28, DreamWorks Animation’s “Mr. Peabody & Sherman� and George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men� are scheduled to hit in mainland cinemas.

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