byXinhuawriterZhangYunlongBEIJING,April2(Xinhua)--ThelatesteditionofLegendaryPictures'lucrativeMonsterversefranchise,"GodzillaxKong:TheNewEmpire,"issettogenerateevenbiggerboxofficerevenueinChina,withthemoviemarketscheduledtoenterthethree-dayQingmingFestivalholidayfromThursday.SinceitsreleaseonMarch29,themoviehasmaintainedadailyboxofficelead,grossing352millionyuan(about49.61millionU.S.dollars)asofTuesdaymorning.Ithasbecomethisyear'stop-earningimportedtitlethusfar,overtaking"Dune:PartTwo,"whichhasmade336millionyuansinceitsMarch8debut.BoxofficetrackerMaoyanhasforecastthatthetotalearningsof"GodzillaxKong:TheNewEmpire"willsurpass840millionyuaninChina.Asequelto"Godzillavs.Kong,"whichpremieredinChinainthesamemonthbackin2021andgrossed1.23billionyuan,"GodzillaxKong:TheNewEmpire"seesthemightyKongandthefearsomeGodzillafacingacolossalandpreviouslyundiscoveredthreathiddenwithintheworld.Withastoryrevolvingaroundtwoiconicmoviemonsters,originatingfromJapanandtheUnitedStates,theseMonsterversefilmshaveprovedverypopularwithChineseaudiences.HOLIDAYLINEUPTheQingmingFestivalisatraditionalChineseholidaythatfallsonthe15thdayaftertheSpringEquinox.Whileitisatimetoenjoythegreeneryofspringtimeandtovisitthegravesofancestors,theholidayhasalsobecomeabusyperiodforculturalandtourismactivitiesinChina,includingtripstothecinema.LeadingMaoyan'schartsofnewreleasesfortheholiday,intermsofanticipationexpressedbyonlineusers,is"TheBoyandtheHeron,"theOscar-winninganimatedfantasyfromHayaoMiyazaki.TheStudioGhiblifilm,centeringona12-year-oldboygrapplingwithhismother'sdeath,issettohitChinesetheatersonWednesday,adaybeforeQingming.Miyazaki'sanimemasterpiece"SpiritedAway"wasasmashhitinChina,grossing488millionyuanin2019."TheBoyandtheHeron"boastsastrong8.0ratingfromusersonreviewsiteDouban,signallingpositivebuzz.Domesticcrimethrillers"DwellingbytheWestLake"and"TheVictims,"setforreleaseonWednesday,arealsohotlyanticipatedbylocalaudiences.IMPORTEDTITLESMarchandAprilareusuallyarelativelyquietperiodforChina'sboxoffice,withnomajorholidayslikeSpringFestivalorMayDayandfewerlocalblockbusterreleases.However,astringofwell-receivedimportedtitleshaveenlivenedthecinemasinrecentweeks.Chineseaudiences"willembraceanyfilm,bigorsmall,localorimported,aslongasthestoryconnects,"saysDongWenxin,afilmindustryobserverandtheatermanager."It'sanopportunity-richmarket."Alongside"GodzillaxKong:TheNewEmpire"and"Dune:PartTwo,"foreignfilmslikePalmed'Orwinner"AnatomyofaFall"havefoundfavoramongChinesemoviegoers.ChinaFilmCriticsAssociationPresidentRaoShuguangdeemsimportedfilms"essential"fordrivingChina'sboxoffice.HecritiquesHollywoodfor"leaningtooheavilyonfranchisesandlackingcreativity,"butadds,"Hollywood'sadaptabilityshouldn'tbeunderestimated--theymayburstforthwithnewcreativity."RaourgedtheChinesefilmindustryto"constantlyexplorenewthemesandgenres,whilefosteringpositiveinteractionsandbuildingtrustwithaudiences.Onlythenwillwehavegreaterroomforgrowth."Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.