Kung Fu Panda 4 continues the adventures of Dragon Warrior Po as he must face a deadly new foe to protect peace in the valley. After a few years of absence from the big screen, the action-comedy franchise returned with its fourth installment in early March, making an immediate impact at the global box office.
However, despite its box office splash in America and other territories, Kung Fu Panda 4, which has a Chinese backdrop and makes several allusions to Chinese culture, has received a tepid response at the Chinese box office. Here is why Kung Fu Panda 4 is struggling at the Chinese box office and how its performance has been lukewarm.
Kung Fu Panda 4 Fails to Crack Top 3 at China Box Office
Voiced by Jack Black, Po, the Panda, is one of the most iconic characters of the animation medium. Po’s journey continues with Kung Fu Panda 4, which was released theatrically in the United States on March 8, 2024. Despite debuting to mostly mixed reviews, the film started with a bang at the box office and has grossed over $176.5 million globally.
Meanwhile, the film’s performance in China could be a cause of concern in its impressive box office takeover. In theory, Kung Fu Panda 4‘s Chinese themes and background make it an ideal fit for the Chinese market. The film was previewed in China over the weekend of March 15 to March 17, 2024, but failed to make it into the top 3.
According to a report from Variety, the film came in at the fourth spot, behind movies such as The Pig, The Snake and the Pigeon, Dune: Part Two, and Remember Me. Kung Fu Panda 4 managed to gross $6 million from its preview showings. The film will be officially released in China on March 22, 2024. Therefore, it will be interesting to see if Kung Fu Panda 4 manages to climb to the number 1 spot after its official debut.
Kung Fu Panda 4 Continues Its Impressive Run at the Domestic Box Office
Despite failing to crack the top 4 in China during its previews, Kung Fu Panda 4 has continued to impress with its performance at the domestic box office. During its first week of release, the film claimed the number 1 spot, beating competition from the critically acclaimed Dune: Part Two.
In its first weekend, the film grossed roughly $58 million, taking the number 1 spot at the US box office. Similarly, it repeated the feat in its second weekend by holding on to the first place while collecting $30 million. In the US alone, Kung Fu Panda 4‘s box office tally has crossed the $100 million mark in its first two weeks.
During its Thursday previews, the film earned $3.8 million in the US, which is considerably less than the $6 million preview collections from China. Therefore, it is likely that Kung Fu Panda 4 could repeat its trailblazing performance at the box office in China upon its full release later this month. Meanwhile, with competition from Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, it remains to be seen if Kung Fu Panda 4 can hold on to the top spot in its third weekend at the US box office.
