CZ12 tops $130m box office

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Box Office News

Jackie CHAN 成龍's CZ12 十二生肖 has amassed some $130 million at box offices around the region, making it one of the biggest Asian films of the year.

Since releasing in China on 20 Dec 2012 it has scored RMB720 million ($116 million) to 6 Jan 2013. That feat has required two consecutive weeks of $37 million-plus performances. It has since become the second highest grossing Chinese language film of all time.

It has done well around much of the Asia region with Malaysia adding $5.75 million (MR17.6 million), Singapore contributing $3.67 million (S$4.5 million), Thailand $1.55 million (฿47.6 million and Vietnam $1.35 million (VND28.4 billion).

In Hong Kong, for many years Chan's adopted home, the film managed a somewhat weaker $1.38 million (HK$10.7 million). Unlike China, the film faced stiff competition for screens and eyeballs from Hollywood titles, notably The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Les Misérables.

But it is also possible that Hong Kong audiences have tired of the troublesome star, who recently irked many with his comments about Hong Kong people having too much political freedom. He is also a controversial figure in Taiwan.

"What is a good date for China is not necessarily a good time for Hong Kong. So when picking a release date we have to ask ourselves what is a film's primary market," said a source close to major investor and Hong Kong distributor Emperor Motion Pictures Ltd 英皇電影有限公司.

In Taiwan, where the film was released on 28 Dec 2012, it has amassed NT$7.31 million (US$252,000) in Taipei, and an estimated $600,000 nationwide, in a ten day run to 6 Jan 2013. It was sixth-placed on opening weekend.

Later this month CZ12 is set to add other regional openings in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines and Russia.

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