Foreign films that perform poorly in the U.S. are getting a second lease on life in China.

Movies that get distributed months after their release dates in the U.S. and elsewhere have found that the Chinese box office can sometimes double their profits.

CGTN’s Phil Lavelle reports from Hollywood.

Warcraft

The movie Warcraft reportedly needed to make $400 million to break even, but only earned $47 million at the U.S. box office. When it went on release in China, it took that in just its first day. In total, it took in a total of $221 million over the course of its release.

Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim’s budget was $190 million. Its U.S. box office intake was just $101 million. In Hollywood’s math, that added up to a flop. In China, Pacific Rim earned another $111 million, helping double the movie’s ticket sales.

Hollywood vs. China Box Office

The Chinese box office is proving to be a lifeline to many in Hollywood. American films will naturally be released in the U.S. first. However, when they do eventually find their way east, they can make even more money. Bad box office takings in Hollywood are not necessarily the end of the story anymore.

For more on the relationship between Hollywood and the Chinese box office, CGTN’s Mike Walter spoke to Janet Yang. She is an award-winning hollywood film producer.