Sci-fi classic's sequel smells of deja vu

Aliens invading the Earth is dramatic stuff. But, something like this - which was novel for audiences decades ago - is failing to rouse viewers today. And to prove it, Fox's $165-million tentpole, Independence Day: Resurgence, grossed only 300 million yuan ($45 million) five days after it premiered on the Chinese mainland on Friday.

The film is being squeezed by Hollywood action film Now You See Me 2 (363 million yuan), and is now second in the mainland's box-office charts, according to the live box-office tracker Cbooo.cn.

Typically, the opening weekend of a film is a good indicator of the market potential of the movie, as cinemas then decide whether to retain or reduce its screen time based on revenue as well as viewer feedback.