The Chinese box office has surpassed that of the United States for the first time in history.
According to THR, the feat was accomplished thanks to China's 2020 box office haul reaching $1.988 billion over the weekend. The North American box office, meanwhile, is at just $1.937 billion. Currently, individual screenings at movie theaters in China are able to function at 75% capacity.
After closing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, China's theatrical moviegoing was able to restart in late July. Since then, the country has seen the release of numerous blockbusters. The most notable of these hits has been The Eight Hundred, which has grossed $460 million, making it the biggest film of 2020 at the worldwide box office. Also generating revenue at the Chinese box office is My People, My Homeland, which has grossed $360 million after just 18 days of release.
By contrast, American movie theaters reopened in late August, and only two movies -- The New Mutants and Tenet -- have opened to over $5 million. With the only major title scheduled for release for the rest of 2020 being Wonder Woman 1984, it is unlikely the North American box office will be able to surpass China's 2020 box office haul.
This feat on the part of the Chinese box office is notable due to the U.S. being at the top of the worldwide box office since the very beginning of moviegoing. For comparison, the North American box office grossed $11.4 billion in 2019 while China took in $9.2 billion.
Source: THR