(Yicai Global) July 1 -- China’s cinema ticket sales in the first six months are not far off 2020’s total despite many movie theaters being closed during the recent Covid-19 outbreaks.

China’s box office raked in CNY17.2 billion (USD2.6 billion) in the six months ended June 30, according to several statistics platforms. In 2020, ticket sales amounted to CNY20.3 billion. While revenue this year is not expected to match the pre-pandemic box office takings of CNY64.1 billion in 2019, it should be possible to reach last year’s CNY47 billion.

Historical epic Watergate Bridge led the pack, grossing CNY4.1 billion (USD612 million) and CNY1.4 billion more than runner-up action comedy firm Too Cool To Kill. Hollywood blockbuster Jurassic World: Dominion, which is on the screens at the moment, has taken in CNY819 million (USD122 million) so far and currently ranks fifth.

Nationwide, movie theaters operated at a rate of 82.9 percent over the period, despite many cinemas in major cities having to shut between February and June amid the Covid-19 flare-ups. This resulted in some film releases being delayed. Some 398 million people went to the cinemas and movies were played 52.2 million times.

The good news is that Shanghai’s cinemas should start reopening from July 8 after a three-month closure and this will be a big boost to box office sales.

Editor: Kim Taylor