‘Need for Speed’ revs to high gear in China; ‘Black Coal’ eats dust

Aaron Paul stars in “Need for Speed.”

(Melinda Sue Gordon / DreamWorks)

Aaron Paul stars in "Need for Speed."(Melinda Sue Gordon / DreamWorks)

In its second week of release in mainland China, "Need for Speed" revved into high gear, adding $22.8 million to its box-office takings and pushing its total earnings in the country to nearly $42.6 million -- far ahead of its stateside gross, film industry consulting firm Artisan Gateway said.

The driving film starring Aaron Paul has disappointed domestically, taking in about $31 million since arriving in theaters March 14. Mainland China has provided about 44% of the total foreign box office for the film, a DreamWorks production that is being distributed by Disney.

With "Need for Speed" accounting for nearly 70% of the mainland box office take in the week ending Sunday, other films were left in the dust, including the country's Berlin International Film Festival darling, "Black Coal, Thin Ice," which could only muster the No. 3 spot with $6.89 million.

REEL CHINA: Coverage of the film industry in China

"Black Coal, Thin Ice," which won the Golden Bear at the German fest, came in even behind the South Korean sci-fi production "Snowpiercer," starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton and Jamie Bell, which took the No. 2 spot with $8.09 million.

Rounding out the Top 5 were the local films "Fighting" and "Horse Trader," which took in $6.63 million and $4.84 million respectively.