China Box Office: ‘Resident Evil’ Holds Top Spot for Fourth Straight Frame as 2014’s ‘John Wick’ Debuts in Third
“Resident Evil” stayed at number one at the mainland China box office for a fourth consecutive weekend, earning $4.3 million from 30 October to 1 November. Its total has reached $71.3 million, while “Traces of Justice” held second place with $3.9 million over the weekend and a cumulative $98.5 million.
The 2014 film “John Wick” opened in third with $2.3 million, more than a decade after its initial release and earlier rejection by Chinese regulators. “Mr. & Mrs. Pardon” and “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” placed fourth and fifth. The overall weekend take was $18.2 million; year-to-date box office revenue stood at $4.73 billion, down 29% on the same period in 2025.
In short
- “Resident Evil” led China’s box office for a fourth weekend.
- “John Wick” debuted in China with $2.3 million.
- 2026 box office revenue was down 29% year on year.
Explained simply
China’s cinema market includes films from both domestic and overseas studios, but foreign releases need approval from Chinese regulators. A film can therefore reach Chinese cinemas well after its original release elsewhere, or not be shown at all.
The Resident Evil and John Wick films are action franchises made outside China. John Wick first came out in 2014, so its late arrival in Chinese cinemas reflects a gap between its original release and its mainland opening.
Box-office rankings show how much films earn in cinemas, while year-to-date figures give a wider view of the market. They matter to studios planning releases and to cinemas relying on ticket sales.
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