Hong Kong Easter box office boosted by ‘Super Mario’, ‘Over My Dead Body’

Hong Kong’s box office returned to pre-pandemic levels over the four-day Easter weekend, led by US animation The Super Mario Bros. Movie and local feature Over My Dead Body.

Total revenues reached $3.83m (HK$30m) from April 7-10, up 1.6% on Easter 2019 (April 19-22) and up 5.4% on Easter 2021 (April 2-5), when seat occupancy was limited to 75% due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Cinemas were shuttered over Easter last year due to pandemic restricitons.

According to Hong Kong Box Office, the Easter boost was in line with ongoing growth and recovery of the theatrical business and reflected a strong cinema-going audience during the holidays.

The four-day chart was topped by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, distributed by Universal Pictures International, with revenues of $1.91m (HK$14.97m) for a cumulative $2.94m (HK$23.06m).

In second place was Ho Cheuk Tin’s local production Over My Dead Body, with $742,000 (HK$5.83m) bringing its total to $1.32m (HK$10.33m). Produced and distributed by One Cool Pictures, the dark comedy centres on a group of residents who attempt to dispose of a dead body found on their doorstep to prevent their property prices from nosediving. The ensemble cast includes Teresa Mo, Ronald Cheng, Edan Lui and Yeung Wai Lun, all of whom are familiar faces in recent local box office hits.

Over My Dead Body opened the Osaka Asia Film Festival last month where it won the ABC TV award. It marks director Ho’s second feature after The Sparring Partner, which proved a smash hit in 2022.

John Wick 4 held third place in its third weekend, with revenues of $449,000 (HK$3.53m) bringing its total to $3.81m (HK$29.94m). It was followed by fantasy adventure Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves and Japanese anime Suzume.

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