Asia Summer Box Office: A Few Big Whales & A Lot Of Long Tails

Before signing off for a few weeks holiday, Streamlined is taking the temperature of the summer box office, along with a round-up of half-year box office results, in major Asian markets.

There is so much drama currently going on in the world between wars, natural disasters, political unrest, arson attacks, Donald ducked and Biden bowed out, that visiting the cinema almost seems like a trivial pastime. But perhaps we all need the air-conditioned sanctity of a cinema hall this summer. It’s either that or hibernate until the typhoons, wildfires and political rhetoric is over.

Venice and Toronto announced their line-ups this week. I’ve started compiling a list of films selected for the autumn film festivals from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with names of sales agents where known. It’s a work-in-progress so please DM me if any additions.

Back to box office. While the mantra in North America is “survive until 2025”, the reduced Hollywood pipeline has been a boon for local productions in s…