Golden Week sets cash ringing at theaters

Golden Week travelers bring plethora of riches to US cities

Movie theaters in China recorded more than 1 billion yuan ($163 million) in box office takings during the National Day holidays from Oct 1 to 7, and the total is expected to reach 28 billion yuan this year, Securities Times website reported Thursday.

The total box office during the holiday, also known as the Golden Week, amounted to 1.08 billion yuan, 74.8 percent higher than the number in the same period in 2013.

With about 13 movies hitting the screens, the comedy 'Breakup Buddies' topped the list with 756 million yuan in collection by Oct 8.

There is a strong growth in audience number and will not be difficult for the box office to collect up to 28 billion yuan this year, said Yin Hong, Executive Dean of School of Journalism and Communication in Tsinghua University.

Hou Tao, vice-president of EntGroup Inc, agreed with the projection. He said movie halls in China can rake up 28.2 million yuan if the growth momentum can be maintained at 30 percent.