In a shocking turn of events at China’s box office, the much-anticipated “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” starring Hollywood icon Tom Cruise suffered a devastating blow as it crashed to third place with an embarrassing opening score of just $25.9 million! The massive flop has left industry insiders stunned and audiences bewildered.
The weekend’s film rankings were dominated not by the action-packed Hollywood spectacle, but by local hits “Never Say Never” and “Chang An,” which scored an impressive $46.1 million and $43.9 million, respectively. These homegrown productions overshadowed the once-vaunted “Mission: Impossible” franchise, leaving its star-studded cast and jaw-dropping stunts in the dust.
Adding insult to injury, “Never Say Never,” directed and written by actor Wang Baoqiang, has already emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year, amassing a staggering $212 million in just 11 days! It seems that Chinese audiences have wholeheartedly embraced their homegrown talent while showing little enthusiasm for Hollywood’s offering.
Despite a wide release on Friday, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” failed to captivate viewers, as the number of sessions plummeted from 98,000 on Friday to a dismal 53,000 on Sunday. The movie’s once-hyped Imax screenings contributed a mere $3.97 million to its lackluster China total.
To add insult to injury, cinemas even slashed the screen count for “Never Say Never” to make room for “Chang An,” with exhibitors seemingly abandoning the Hollywood flop to rally behind the local blockbuster.
The Tom Cruise-led film’s disastrous performance now ranks as the fourth largest opening failure for a Hollywood movie in 2023. Its dismal China launch pales in comparison to the soaring success of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3,” “Fast X,” and “Transformers – Rise of the Beasts,” leaving Cruise’s once invincible star power in question.
Industry experts are baffled by the steep decline in Cruise’s box office mojo in China. His previous films, including “Mission: Impossible” installments, have been huge hits in the region, but this sudden setback has sent shockwaves throughout Hollywood.
With “Lost in the Stars” continuing to soar and earning an additional $15.9 million over the weekend, the contrast between local and international films couldn’t be starker. Chinese audiences have spoken loudly and clearly, showing a strong preference for their own homegrown productions.
As the Chinese box office continues to witness unprecedented growth, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” serves as a cautionary tale for Hollywood, reminding the industry that even the biggest stars and grandest stunts may no longer guarantee success in this fiercely competitive market.
Will Cruise and his “Mission: Impossible” franchise be able to regain their former glory, or is this the beginning of a downward spiral for the once-mighty action star in the world’s second-largest film market? Only time will tell, but for now, the shockwaves from this box office disaster are reverberating throughout Hollywood and beyond.
