China's box office revenue in 2021 has exceeded 23.09 billion yuan ($3.59 billion) as of Saturday, higher than the total ticket sales for the whole of 2020, a year wrecked by COVID-19, which stood at $3.16 billion, according to the ticketing platform Maoyan. Yet, the total is still lower than pre-pandemic levels as the revenue generated in the same period in 2019 surpassed $4 billion.

Chinese comedian and actress Jia Ling's maiden directorial project "Hi, Mom" and Wanda Pictures' comedy series "Detective Chinatown 3" has been leading the domestic box office chart since their release during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday in February, with total earnings of $840 million and $700 million to date.

"Hi, Mom" is also the second-highest-grossing film ever recorded in the country's box office, outshone only by the 2017 Chinese action-adventure production "Wolf Warrior 2" that raked in $880 million.

Meanwhile, nine out of 10 earners are domestic productions. The American sci-fi monster-themed blockbuster "Godzilla vs Kong" currently ranks third on the yearly chart, hitting $191 million.

Chinese director Zhang Yimou's first spy film "Cliff Walkers" beat domestic hit drama "Sister" on Friday and climbed one notch up to sixth place on the chart. Set in the 1930s in Harbin City, northeast China, "Cliff Walkers" follows special agents of the Communist Party trying to complete a secret mission.

The movie has been hailed by critics as a personal breakthrough for the director in terms of genre and narrative exploration and a new step forward for China's patriotic films. Overseas, the film was released in North America, Australia, and New Zealand on April 30, the same day as China.

"Sister" is a dark horse from the Qingming Festival holiday movie period in early April. Helmed by emerging director Yin Ruoxin and staring 20-year-old actress Zhang Zifeng, it tells the story of a young girl that has to choose between pursuing her dreams and taking care of her little brother after their parents die in a car crash. 

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover image via CFP)