Big-budget films gear up for China's vacation market

S.M.A.R.T. Chase, starring Orlando Bloom, will hit screens during the upcoming National Day holiday. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Big-budget films gear up for China's lucrative vacation market this fall. Xu Fan reports.

With China's National Day holiday week beginning on Oct 1, the battle of potential blockbusters for the lucrative vacation market is about to begin.

Latest figures from major online ticket sites, such as Maoyan and Taopiaopiao, show that 11 new movies will premiere around or during the holiday week.

As this year's Mid-Autumn Festival will fall on Oct 4, the vacation will extend through Oct 8.

Usually predicting the winner is a hot topic at this time of the year, but this year is looking a bit different.

The movies that were anticipated to become hits but surprisingly aren't part of the Golden Week release have also caught eyeballs and are generating online buzz.

Such movies include the crime thriller The Liquidator, comedy Girls 2 and fantasy drama The Golden Monk.

Chinese media reported that The Liquidator failed to gain a screening license and Girls 2 changed the release date concerned it may fail in box office under the fierce competition.