Despite Record-Breaking ‘Walled In,’ Hong Kong Box Office Takes First Half Tumble – Global Bulletin
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HONG KONG STUMBLE
A local film “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” earned an all-time record-breaking HK$105 million ($13.5 million) at the Hong Kong box office. But it was not enough to keep the territory’s theatrical business on a recovery track. Data from Hong Kong Box Office Ltd. Shows that January to end of June gross revenues dropped by 17% year-on-year, from HK$772 million ($99 million) to HK$640 million ($82 million) this time. Another Hong Kong made film “Table for Six 2” earned HK$37.4 million ($4.80 million) to make it a local one-two, ahead of “Dune: Pt 2,” with HK$36 million ($4.62 million) as the leading imported title. The organization reported that the first half enjoyed 143 theatrical releases, of which 22 were local productions.
EIGHT TIMES TWO
Crunchyroll confirmed that a second season of the Production I.G. hit anime series “Kaiju No. 8” has already begun production. The reveal was made on the same day as the first season reached its finale.
The anime is adapted from the original manga created by Matsumoto Naoy and is animated by Production I.G (“Psycho-Pass,” “Ghost In The Shell”) with kaiju artwork and design supervision by Studio Khara (“Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition,” “Shin Godzilla”).
The series is being directed by Miya Shigeyuki (director and character designer of “Onihei,” and director of “The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior”) and Kamiya Tomomi (“Yotsuiro Biyori”).
“In a world plagued by creatures known as Kaiju, Kafka Hibino aspired to enlist in The Defense Force. He makes a promise to enlist with his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. Soon, life takes them in separate ways. While employed cleaning up after Kaiju battles, Kafka meets Reno Ichikawa. Reno’s determination to join The Defense Force reawakens Kafka’s promise to join Mina and protect humanity,” reads an official synopsis.
GOING ALL THE WAY
“The Way, My Way,” an Australian-made film about a man’s lengthy hike along the Camino de Santiago Trail in northern Spain, has achieved A$2 million at the Australia and New Zealand box offices. That makes it the third-highest grossing Australian film of this year in the local charts behind “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “Force of Nature: The Dry.”
The film is based on the non-fiction book by writer and director Bill Bennett, with Chris Haywood playing the author as he walks 800km and changes his life, one step at a time. It was released on May 16 by Maslow Entertainment.
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