Disney’s “Zootopia 2” again led the China box office for the Feb. 6–8 weekend, taking RMB25.9 million ($3.6 million) and lifting its cumulative total to RMB4.5 billion ($634.1 million), according to Artisan Gateway.

The market continued to soften in the days immediately ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday frame, with holdovers accounting for all of the top five titles and no major new releases entering the chart.

“Busted Water Pipes” held second place, earning $2.5 million in its third weekend and pushing its running total to $14 million. The Taopiaopiao release centers on an underperforming local police unit that fabricates minor cases to pad its record, only to uncover a genuine criminal conspiracy after a burst water main exposes a gang of tomb raiders posing as repair workers.

In third, crime thriller “The Fire Raven” added $2.1 million, bringing its cumulative gross to $65.5 million. Directed and written by Sam Quah, the film stars Peng Yuchang, Alan Aruna and Chang Ning and revolves around a long-dormant murder case that reopens amid systemic corruption.

James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” ranked fourth with $1.8 million, taking its China cume to $164.8 million, while “Return to Silent Hill” rounded out the top five on $1.3 million for a $17.3 million total.

Overall, China’s box office generated $17.6 million for the weekend. Year-to-date revenue now stands at $318 million, down 84.4% from the same period last year, as exhibitors await the start of the Lunar New Year holiday corridor later in February.

- Variety