Mainland China’s Ne Zha 2 earns HK$5.6 million on first day in Hong Kong

Mainland Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 raked in about HK$5.5 million (US$707,750) upon its debut in Hong Kong on Saturday, with some screenings for the following day already sold out.

Children with parents in tow joined other residents in lines outside cinemas across the city, while several patriotic groups organised private screenings to support what has become the highest-grossing film to emerge from China, earning nearly US$1.8 billion worldwide since its release last month.

According to film information platform Wmoov, Ne Zha 2 led Hong Kong’s box office on Saturday, drawing more than 63,000 viewers and generating about HK$5.5 million in ticket sales as of 6pm. The film had more than 600 screenings on Saturday.

In distant second place was the local award-winning drama The Way We Talk, which sold about 8,000 tickets and made about HK$705,000.

Three afternoon screenings at the MCL Cheung Sha Wan cinema were sold out, while only a few tickets for other times remained. Several screenings at CineArt House in Causeway Bay were also boasting full houses.

Sai Kung district councillor Christine Fong Kwok-shan organised three private screenings for residents. The roughly 800 tickets she bought were quickly snapped up, and many of those who attended were parents with children.