Fox’ latest X-Men movie “Logan” required some major edits to get past China’s film censors, but those alterations didn’t crimp its performance at the country’s box office, as the film clawed its way to $48.6 million since opening March 3, according to market research firm Artisan Gateway.
That was good enough for the No. 1 spot, edging out Sony/Screen Gems’ video game adaptation “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,” which has brought in $138.9 million in China in two weeks. And that’s despite 14 minutes of footage being left on the cutting room floor, compared with the U.S. theatrical version, which its censors attributed to violence, foul language and brief nudity.
That’s more than zombie film “Resident Evil,” which had seven minutes excised. (That also pales in comparison to “Cloud Atlas,” which had a whopping 35 minutes, removed by censors, cut out of the movie.)
“Logan” was the first film in China to be affected by a new law requiring certain movies to display warnings at all online or offline points of sale, like ticket counters or online ticketing apps, saying, “elementary school students and pre-school children must be accompanied by parents or guardians.” China does not, however, have a film rating system.
The superhero movie opened to $88.3 million in the U.S., becoming Fox’s second-consecutive R-rated early-season Marvel hit, after last year’s “Deadpool” made $132 million during its opening weekend on its way to $363 million domestically and $783 million worldwide.
Hugh Jackman plays the title character in his last film as iconic Marvel superhero Wolverine, in which he risks everything to bring a young mutant clone to the Canadian border to get away from unethical researchers. “Logan” is directed by James Mangold and also stars Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook and Stephen Merchant. Richard E. Grant. Hutch Parker, Simon Kinberg, and Lauren Shuler Donner produced the movie.