Avengers: Endgame box-office record beaten by a new blockbuster in China

WandaVision The Blip
(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney)

Avengers: Endgame broke a lot of box-office records. The superhero team-up grossed $2.79 billion worldwide, beating Avatar to the top spot. However, there's one box-office record that Endgame no longer holds, thanks to an incredible showing in China for Detective Chinatown 3.

First of all – yes, theaters are actually open in China, though still not quite at full capacity. In most parts of the US, they remain closed, while, in the UK, there are no cinemas open at all. Full stop. 

Post-lockdown, China's cinemas are booming, with Detective Chinatown 3 setting a new opening weekend record, taking $398 million. Not only that, but the threequel can now boast having the biggest opening weekend ever in a single market, according to Deadline. Avengers: Endgame previously held that record, having made $357 million in North America back in April 2019. 

Detective Chinatown 3 is a buddy-cop movie that follows two cops who are brought to Tokyo to investigate a major crime by the mysterious villain Q. Directed by Chen Sicheng, it's a bright movie with slapstick humor and a loveable central duo. 

The box-office achievement came as moviegoers celebrated the beginning of the Year of the Ox. Deadline reports that cinema owners are seeing this as a good omen for things to come, with hopes theaters in other areas will rebound the same way when the likes of Black Widow, Fast & Furious 9, and more eventually come out.

In the meantime, here are the most exciting upcoming movies heading to theaters in the (hopefully) near future. 

Jack Shepherd
Freelance Journalist

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.

Latest in Action Movies
Daniel Craig in No Time to Die
James Bond will reportedly remain male and British under new Amazon management, as Pierce Brosnan says it's "a given" that the next actor must not be American
Batman and Catwoman talking
Robert Pattinson is hoping to team up with his The Batman co-star Zoe Kravitz on another project soon
Keanu Reeves and Brzrkr
Justin Lin to helm Keanu Reeves' comic book movie adaptation BRZRKR for Netflix
Black Widow post-credits
Avengers Tower will have a new name in Thunderbolts, and the movie's director says it's "a symbol of things taking a darker turn"
Daniel Craig in new James Bond movie No Time to Die
Amazon boss reportedly said "I don’t care what it costs" to buy James Bond after they approached long-time producers with a Moneypenny spin-off
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 4
A new action thriller from the John Wick team described as "a corporate thriller with a samurai twist" is finding its cast, and I've never been more seated
Latest in News
Giancarlo Esposito in The Electric State
The Electric State star Giancarlo Esposito explains why adapting the bleak novel into a family friendly adventure was the right decision: "I'm going to bring my children with me"
soldiers dropping in from the sky and looking over verdansk
Warzone's original map is returning next month, but it's still not enough: "We don't just want Verdansk back. We want everything back"
Death Stranding 2
Death Stranding 2 packs on a third obvious Metal Gear Solid reference with cover art throwing back to MGS2's bizarre box art featuring Japanese pop superstar Gackt
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker 2
Wednesday star Jenna Ortega teases Lady Gaga's appearance in season 2 of the Netflix show: "It was just a really, really special environment"
People playing Finspan, the new game in the Wingspan series
The must-have fishy successor to Wingspan and Wyrmspan is discounted for the first time
Lego Mario & Standard Kart being held by a person sat at a table
The new Lego Mario Kart set is so much better than I was expecting it to be