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Bad Boys for Life is no longer the biggest movie of 2020 as Chinese war drama The Eight Hundred knocks it off the top spot

Photo credit: Sony Pictures
Photo credit: Sony Pictures

From Digital Spy

Bad Boys For Life is no longer the highest grossing movie of 2020, having been knocked off the top spot by Chinese war drama The Eight Hundred.

The third instalment of the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence-led franchise exceeded all expectations following its release back in January.

Thanks to positive reviews, strong word of mouth, and some seriously fortunate timing, the film went on rake in an eye-watering $424,617,855 at the global box office. That eclipses the likes of Pixar's Onward, Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, Sonic the Hedgehog and Dolittle – although some of these titles have been hindered by the ongoing pandemic.

Photo credit: Sony Pictures
Photo credit: Sony Pictures

Related: Why Bad Boys for Life has been a box-office hit

The Eight Hundred, however, has now overtaken the cop action/comedy, with its worldwide haul currently sitting at $425,633,208.

The war movie's success in China has quite clearly been the governing factor here, with almost the entirety of its global box office earnings coming from abroad. At the foreign box office, it made over twice as much as Bad Boys For Life.

The controversy surrounding Disney's live-action remake of Mulan may also have played a part in all this, with Chinese audiences instead opting to see the local-made war drama.

Photo credit: CMC Pictures - YouTube
Photo credit: CMC Pictures - YouTube

Related: The best movies of 2020 (so far)

Despite having an all-Asian cast, Mulan has been criticised for having a lack of Chinese voices behind the camera, which is likely to have damaged its appeal with local audiences.

The film was also hit with a media blackout by the Chinese government, which may be another factor that worked in The Eight Hundred's favour.


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