Fish-shaped lantern show at Wuxi Studios during the May Day holiday. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
China's May Day holiday box office surpassed 750 million yuan ($110.25 million), with Wuxi-based productions leading the charge.
The suspense thriller Vanishing Point, produced by companies including QC Media, based at Wuxi Studios, or Wuxi National Digital Film Industrial Park in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, secured the top spot with approximately 260 million yuan. Following closely was the Hong Kong-style crime film Cold War 1994, led by Wuxi Jiaxiong Media, which is also based in the Wuxi Studios, grossing around 200 million yuan. Together, these production studios in Wuxi accounted for over 60 percent of the holiday's total box office revenue, highlighting Wuxi's significant impact on the film industry.
Notably, the local box office for these films in Wuxi accounted for 69.3 percent of the city's total, 8 percentage points above the national average. This success underscores the influence of the Wuxi Studios, which not only excels in film production but also in creating immersive cinematic experiences.
In addition to dominating the box office, Wuxi Studios, as a 4A-rated scenic area, became a viral sensation with an immersive light and shadow performance that blends modern technology with ancient intangible cultural heritage. The park offered free entry with movie tickets, making it a top holiday destination.
Over the five-day holiday, China Media Group spotlighted Wuxi Studios three times, praising its innovative "film + heritage + consumption" model. This approach, centered on film IP, integrates diverse consumer experiences, offering tourists a novel cultural experience.
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