Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania led the Chinese box office this weekend, knocking off The Wandering Earth 2 from its perch on top of the list.

The film grossed $19.5 million in three days but expectations were much higher – in the $35-$55 million range – according to Deadline. It’s the first Marvel movie to open day and date in China since the ban was lifted.

A few more Hollywood movies have been granted releases in China – Sony’s The Son will open on February 24, Universal’s M3GAN on March 17, Paramount’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on March 31 (day and date), and Focus Features’ Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris on March 31.

Warner’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods is already announced to open on March 17.

IMAX Corporation is celebrating its China box office receipts. In a press release dated February 16, the company announced grosses of $61.3 million over the 26-day Chinese New Year holiday ($82 million in 2023 so far), 72% over last year’s, and the best in the company’s history over the same period. The top movies during the period – The Wandering Earth 2, Full River Red, Deep Sea and Hidden Blade – were all released in the IMAX format.

While TWE2 already has an international release in North America, the UK, Australia and New Zealand with more territories to follow, Full River Red is being sold at the Berlin International Film Festival’s European Film Market going on right now. Six Chinese films will premiere at the Berlinale, the most so far at the festival. Two – Liu Jian’s Art College 1984 and Zhang Lu’s The Shadowless Tower will be in competition.

Here are the top ten films for the weekend of February 17-19, 2023.

The Wandering Earth 2 fell to second place. The sci-fi disaster film has grossed $569.22 million since its Chinese New Year opening 29 days ago. The weekend take was $12.04 million. It stars Andy Lau, Wu Jing and Li Xuejian, is directed by Frant Gwo, and is about Chinese heroes saving the earth from annihilation.

Director Zhang Yimou’s Full River Red (Man Jiang Hong) falls to no. 3 with $652.73 million in 29 days, with $9.4 million grossed over the weekend. The film is a historical suspense movie starring Shen Teng and Jackson Yee that deals with treachery in the Southern Song dynasty.

At no. 4 is Boonie Bears: Guardian Code, the ninth animated sci-fi comedy in the franchise. It grossed $5.77 million over the weekend for a total of $207.40 million over 29 days. It is directed by Lin Yongchang and Shao Heqi.

The Deep Sea (Shenhai), another Chinese animated film directed by Tian Xiaopeng, came in at no. 5 with a total of $122.70 million over its 29-day run and a weekend take of $4.78 million. The film is an underwater fantasy story in 3D based on the POV of a young girl.

Ping Pong: The Triumph ended the weekend at no. 6, officially opening on Friday (at no. 4) after two weeks in previews. It is a sports film based on the true story of the comeback of the China men’s table tennis team at the 1995 World Table Tennis championships in Tianjin. It has grossed $11.15 million so far.

The World War II espionage thriller, Hidden Blade, came in at no. 7, grossing $133.38 million in 29 days. It stars Chinese superstar Tony Leung, Wang Yibo and Zhou Xun, and is directed by Cheng Er. The story is set during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai and focuses on the intelligence agents who risked their lives to save the motherland.

Avatar: The Way of Water ended the weekend in eighth place with $249.20 million over its extended run of 66 days.

The Hong Kong drama, A Guilty Conscience, opened in previews on Saturday and took ninth place with $0.59 million. It officially opens next weekend, February 24. Directed by Wai-Lun Ng, the film stars Chi-Wah Wong, Louise Wong, and Kai-Wa Ho and tells the story of a lawyer who works to free an innocent woman after his negligence landed her in jail.

Behind the Blue Eyes, a Chinese romance that opened on Valentine’s Day, February 14, rounds out the top ten with $6.77 million over six days. Directed by Tong Ka-Fai, the story is about childhood sweethearts separated by distance and hidden family secrets. It stars He Landou, Kent Tsai and David Wang.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ended the weekend in a disappointing 12^th place with a total gross of $15.11 million over 13 days.