China is now the biggest theatrical market in the world, thanks largely to local productions.
The biggest movie at the global box office this year is the Chinese war film "The Battle at Lake Changjin," which has grossed more than $800 million — and it's only been released in China (it will soon be released in other markets, including the US).
In the US, where the theatrical industry is recovering much more slowly, big-budget are lucky to crack $200 million.
"The China market is moving away from Hollywood," said Chris Fenton, a film producer and the author of "Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, & American Business." "China doesn't need Hollywood to fill seats anymore. 'The Battle at Lake Changjin' can do that."
"F9" and "Godzilla vs. Kong" are the only two Hollywood releases in China's top 10 biggest movies this year. There were two Hollywood movies in the top 10 in 2019, too. But that was the year Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame" became China's biggest Hollywood release of all time with more than $600 million.
This year, Marvel movies have been shut out of the country by China's government amid controversy.
Aynne Kokas, a media studies professor at the University of Virginia and the author of the book "Hollywood Made in China," predicted that fewer Hollywood films would be approved for release in the future, and those that do will face stricter regulations.
Local films have been accounting for more and more of China's box office in recent years: 50% in 2016, 60% in 2018, and 85% in 2020, according to the research firm Ampere Analysis.
Hollywood pushed most of its biggest movies back to this year, but Fenton pointed out that most of those that have been released in China have underperformed.
"Jungle Cruise," which finally opened in China over the weekend, flopped with $3 million.
"And it stars The Rock, the biggest star in the world," Fenton said.
Below are the 10 highest-grossing movies at the China box office so far this year: