‘Avatar’ Re-Release Has Outgrossed ‘Mulan’ In China
Since its re-release in China earlier this month,Avatarhas already seen sky-high success — winning back its title ashighest-grossing movieof all time, and adding tens of millions to is already absurd $2.83 billion total haul. One more achievement to add to the 10-year-old movie’s list: surpassing Disney’s live-action remake ofMulan, which was generally rejected by Chinese audiences when it hit theaters last year.
The Wrapreports that in just 10 days, theAvatarre-release has already grossed more thanMulandid in its entire run in China. The 2009 James Cameron blockbuster has raked in $44 million since it re-opened in Chinese theaters on March 9, surpassing the $41 million haul of Disney’s live-actionMulanremake.
In its second week since its re-release,Avatartook in $14 million, falling just 33% from its opening weekend haul of $21 million. Still, it’s better than whatMulanmade during its entire run in China last September, falling short of expectations for the Disney adaptation of a beloved Chinese legend. This, despite Disney’s obvious attempts toappeal to the Chinese market— by stacking the cast with homegrown stars like Liu Yifei, Gong Li, and Donnie Yen, and deliberately infusing the film with values and themes that were designed to connect with Chinese audiences. However, perhaps owing to the many domestic adaptations ofMulanor the transparency of Disney’s catering to Chinese audiences, the country soundly rejected the film.
Avatar, however, has always enjoyed massive success in China, where it earned a whopping $202 million during its initial theatrical run. Last weekend, it became the first Hollywood blockbuster this year to take the number one spot in China’s box office charts. And depending on how well it continues to perform, theAvatarre-release could become the highest grossing Hollywood film in China since the pandemic closed theaters in January 2020. It only has to surpass Christopher Nolan’sTenet,which grossed $66 million in China last summer.
But, like the “triumph” thatAvatarenjoyed overAvengers: Endgamelast week, it’s not that much of a loss for Disney, in the end. The House of Mouse owns 20th Century Studios, which distributesAvatar, which can more than make up for the sting ofMulan’s box office disappointment. It’s likely for each of these updates onAvatar’s box office during its re-release run in China, the stories will play out like Disney going for another round against…Disney.
