China Box Office: ‘Ne Zha 2' Stays on Top as Jason Statham's ‘A Working Man' Opens Quietly
Jason Statham-starring action thriller 'A Working Man,' released by Black Bear, debuted in second place with a modest $3.3 million. Despite the soft launch, the film marked the weekend's strongest new release.
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Box Office: 'A Working Man' Hammers in $5.6 Million Opening Day in Race Against 'Snow White' for No. 1
Hanna Pictures' 'The River of Fury' dropped to third place, earning $2.1 million. The film's cumulative stands at $5.4 million after two weeks in release. Directed by Feng Yongqin, the film is a crime thriller where the mysterious disappearance of a woman is related to a series of murders.
As One Production's 'Detective Chinatown 1900' continues to hold steady in fourth place with $1.8 million, pushing its total to $494.7 million. The enduring popularity of the franchise has kept the film in the top five for nine consecutive weeks.
Rounding out the top five was Lian Ray Pictures' 'New Life,' which earned $0.7 million in its second weekend, bringing its total to $3.2 million. Directed by Dong Hongjie, the drama follows a lonely worker who befriends a stray dog.
Total weekend box office revenue reached $20.8 million, bringing China's 2025 year-to-date total to $3.39 billion — representing a 50.4% increase compared to the same period in 2024. While no breakout new release emerged this weekend, the market remains strong thanks to the staying power of domestic hits like 'Ne Zha 2,' albeit now a far cry from the record-breaking heights of the Lunar New Year holiday period.
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New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Rachel Zegler returns to ‘Evita' — one day after suffering health scare mid-performance
The show must go on. Rachel Zegler, 24, returned to her role in 'Evita' on Friday, July 25, after abruptly leaving the London Palladium one day earlier due to a mystery illness. The actress marked her surprising return on her Instagram Stories, where she shared several photos of herself back on stage at the West End theater. 10 Rachel Zegler returned to her role in 'Evita' on Friday after abruptly leaving the London Palladium one day earlier due to illness. Instagram/@lulukener 10 Rachel Zegler marked her return on Instagram, where she shared several photos of herself back on stage at the West End theater. Instagram/@loesnikken Zegler also shared a clip of herself taking a final bow at the end of Friday night's show. 'An incredible performance,' one fan captioned a photo that Zegler later posted. 'Me walking into the Palladium for a two-show day here at Evita,' the actress added in another pic shared Saturday morning. 10 The actress also shared a clip of herself taking a final bow at the end of Friday night's show. Instagram/@joshhopkins Although the 'Snow White' actress suddenly left 'Evita' on Thursday evening due to an unspecified illness, People reported that her departure was not announced until intermission. Bella Brown, Zegler's understudy, took over during the musical's second act and performed the production's signature song, 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina.' The London audience was so pleased with Brown's performance that they gave the young starlet an almost five-minute standing ovation. 10 tktk Instagram/@rachelzegler 'Today really showed just how important swings and covers are within this industry,' the actress wrote on her Instagram Stories after Thursday night's show. 'They are pillars of a show! A proud day to be at 'Evita.'' 'What a lucky audience getting to see both me and MY ANGEL REG ZEG!' Brown added in a follow-up post. The Post reached out to Zegler's rep for comment. 10 Rachel Zegler and cast attend the press night after party for 'Evita' at the London Palladium on July 1, 2025, in London, stars as the former first lady of Argentina, Eva Perón, in director Jamie Lloyd's revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. The production, which kicked off in June and is scheduled to run through September, marks Zegler's London stage debut. 'I couldn't be luckier,' the actress wrote on Instagram before the musical's opening night. 'I have such a deep love for everyone who has touched this production.' 10 Rachel Zegler attends the press night after party for 'Evita' at the London Palladium on July 1, 2025 in London, England.'I never thought I would get to live my dream this way. Surrounded by the most amazing people. I feel so held,' she added. Zegler also revealed that starring in Jamie Lloyd's 'Evita' had always been a dream of hers. ''Evita' has been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl, when my dad and I would sing 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' together on my back patio,' she told Deadline in March. 'The opportunity to bring Jamie Lloyd's singular, visionary ideas to life onstage is an honor unlike any other.' 10 Rachel Zegler out and about in London during a break from 'Evita.' BACKGRID 'The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can't wait to make my West End debut in such great company,' she said. Still, the 'West Side Story' star's 'Evita' performance has not been without criticism. During the iconic tune 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina,' Zegler leaves the London Palladium stage and performs the song from an outdoor balcony while those in the audience stay inside and watch from a screen. 'I'm excited to see her, but not sure how I feel about paying that much to watch the most iconic moment on a screen,' one person complained. 10 Rachel Zegler performing 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' from a balcony outside the London Palladium. John Rainford / 10 Rachel Zegler performing 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' from a balcony outside the London Palladium. John Rainford/INSTARimages 'Sorry, are you saying I've paid that much for 2 tickets and she's singing the biggest number outside at people who haven't paid?' another paying theatergoer fussed. However, others praised the 'incredible' and 'emotional' balcony scene. 'Absolutely stunning idea and a beautiful symbol – while the rich sit inside the theatre watching from the screen, Evita is outside on the balcony of the theatre addressing all those who can't afford to go to the theatre and/or are living on the streets of London,' one attendee gushed on X. 10 Rachel Zegler and backup dancer Nathan Louis-Fernand at a Sabrina Carpenter concert together on July 6. BACKGRID Meanwhile, Zegler has been enjoying her time behind the scenes of 'Evita.' She was spotted kissing backup dancer Nathan Louis-Fernand at Hyde Park earlier this month, and the pair were pictured holding hands at a Sabrina Carpenter concert on July 6. Zegler previously faced backlash while promoting Disney's live-action 'Snow White,' which flopped at the box office earlier this year. After slamming those who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, she allegedly butted heads with co-star Gal Gadot over their differences regarding the Israel-Palestinian war in Gaza.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Horoscope for Saturday, July 26th, 2025
After a hectic week, the energy for today is a bit more mellow. The first half of the day bodes well for spending time with friends and enjoying lighthearted fare. As we head into the evening, we'll be allowed the opportunity to catch up to ourselves and handle any tasks or chores that we may have skipped over during the past few days. It will be a good time for getting organized and cleaning up clutter, as well as anything else that supports our mental and physical health. ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Make plans for the morning or early afternoon when you're more likely to be in the mood for fun. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Take time to nourish yourself by doing something that makes you happy. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Connect with someone who feels like home to you. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) If you're seeking a way to give back, consider donating money or resources to a charity or cause that you care about. LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) It's a great day for getting together with a friend or two. Think low-key, low-cost entertainment. VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Schedule some time for yourself before you jump into your next project or task. LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Spend time around people you can learn from. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) If you want others to get on board with what you're planning or doing, use your natural charisma. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) You can inspire others with your positivity and sage wisdom. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) Whatever you do today, make sure it's at least one thing that supports your mind and body. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Embrace the romantic vibes in the air, especially if you're in an existing relationship. PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Aim to get chores and errands out of the way first so that you can have some time to play later. FOR TODAY'S BIRTHDAY You never do anything in a timid or halfhearted way. Whatever your goal or mission, you always give it your all. Others are either inspired by your courage and passion, or they're intimidated by it. The people you do best with are those who match your energy and confidence. In relationships, you're loyal and affectionate. You're not afraid to let others know how you feel about them. Your heart is genuine, and your attitude is unfiltered. This year, money may be a focus for you in terms of how you earn, spend and save it. If you want to make improvements in these areas, you will succeed. BIRTHDATE OF: Sandra Bullock, actress/producer; Jason Statham, actor; Elizabeth Gillies, actress/singer.
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Geek Tyrant
While LILO & STITCH Hit $1 Billion, NE ZHA 2 Is the Real Box Office King of 2025 and Hollywood Should Pay Attention — GeekTyrant
As you may have heard, Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch movie just joined the billion-dollar club, making it the first Motion Picture Association release of 2025 to hit that milestone. It's a major win for Disney, especially after a rough year of costly misfires. But, while Stitch is soaking up the spotlight, the truth is this film wasn't first across the line. That honor belongs to Ne Zha 2 , a Chinese animated sequel that didn't just cross $1 billion, it obliterated records and now sits at more than $2.2 billion, almost entirely from China alone. This didn't happen overnight. The first Ne Zha was a cultural phenomenon in 2019, earning over $726 million worldwide and becoming the second highest-grossing non-English language film ever, behind The Battle at Lake Changjin 's $902 million. Its domestic run was even more impressive: $719 million in China, breaking the record for the biggest animated hit in a single market, a record previously held by Incredibles 2 in North America with $608 million. That set the stage for a sequel with sky-high expectations, and Ne Zha 2 it crushed them. Released on January 29, 2025, during Chinese New Year, the film broke records instantly. It pulled in over 700 million yuan (about $96 million) on opening day, then became the fastest film in Chinese history to pass the 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) mark, doing so in just seven days. Today, Ne Zha 2 has earned an astonishing 15.44 billion yuan, or roughly $2.13 billion, making it the highest-grossing movie ever in a single country. For perspective, that's more than double what Star Wars: The Force Awakens made in North America. Globally, it's now the fifth highest-grossing movie of all time, topping Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: The Force Awakens and sitting behind only Titanic , Avatar: The Way of Water, Endgame , and Avatar . It's also the only non-American, non-English language film in that elite top ten. In the animation space, its dominance is even clearer. With $2.215 billion worldwide, Ne Zha 2 is now the highest-grossing animated film in history, far surpassing Disney's previous record holder, The Lion King (2019), at $1.66 billion. That's a $550 million gap, bigger than the total global gross of many Hollywood animated hits. What makes Ne Zha 2 's success even more striking is its profitability. Reportedly made for around $80 million, the movie pulled off an incredible 27-to-1 return on investment. Compare that to Avengers: Endgame , which made $2.79 billion on a $356 million budget, which is a ratio of less than 8-to-1. Meanwhile, Hollywood continues pumping out $200 million blockbusters like The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman that need $700 million just to break even. If Ne Zha 2 had stopped at $500 million, it still would have been a huge financial success. This is the real wake-up call: blockbuster filmmaking doesn't have to mean runaway budgets. Ne Zha 2 proves that audiences care more about story and cultural resonance than inflated VFX costs and endless reshoots. Ne Zha 2 had a budget of $80 million, which is far less than what Disney and Pixar spend on their animated films. Another lesson here is global market dynamics. China used to be Hollywood's safety net, the market that pushed tentpoles past the billion-dollar mark. Now, Chinese audiences are pouring money into homegrown stories that reflect their culture. Hollywood's old strategy of adding token representation and hoping for an easy box office boost is outdated. If studios want to win back international audiences, they need real cross-cultural storytelling and a smarter approach to budgets. For Disney, Lilo & Stitch 's billion-dollar run is a huge relief after a brutal year of failures. Marvel's Captain America: Brave New World ($415 million) and Thunderbolts ($381.9 million) underperformed, Snow White tanked at $205 million against a massive budget, and Pixar's Elio couldn't crack $150 million worldwide. Those losses make Stitch's success a rare bright spot in an otherwise bleak financial picture. Disney and the rest of Hollywood can't keep playing the same game. They need tighter budgets, stronger storytelling, and projects that can thrive beyond the U.S. market without relying on brand nostalgia. Lilo & Stitch is still in theaters, while the English-language dub of Ne Zha 2 hits U.S. theaters on August 22. Considering the global momentum, its reign is far from over.
