Local comedy Never Say Die (羞羞的鐵拳) maintained its dominance over the National Day holiday in China. The national holiday period – extended to eight days this year thanks to Mid-Autumn Festival – ended on Sunday.

Over its first nine days on release, the Song Yang and Zhang Chiyu film – co-produced by popular comedy troupe Happy Twist – earned RMB1.47 billion (US$223 million), surpassing the total of the troupe’s previously blockbuster comedy, Goodbye Mr. Loser (夏洛特煩惱). Never Say Die had an average screening share of 34.1% over the holiday.

Martin Campbell’s The Foreigner (英倫對決) held on to second place, earning RMB446 million (US$67.7 million) in its first nine days on release. The thriller, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan – was released in 3-D – which meant inflated ticket prices. It had an average screening share of 17.2% over the holiday.

During this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, Kung Fu Yoga (功夫瑜伽) earned RMB1.25 billion (US$189 million) over its first nine days on release for a total of RMB1.75 billion (US$266 million).

Wong Jing and Jason Kwan’s Chasing the Dragon (追龍) is in third place with RMB398 million (US$60.5 million) over nine days, but the crime biopic began overtaking The Foreigner in both gross and screening share over the last three days of the holiday period. It’s likely that the Bona release will outgross The Foreigner by the end of its run as the second highest-grossing National Day holiday release.

Li Chen’s Sky Hunter (空天獵) is in fourth place, earning RMB220 million (US$33.4 million) between last Saturday and this past Sunday. With an average screening share of 10.5% over the period, the film initially had a lead over Da Peng’s City of Rock (縫紉機樂隊), but it slowly fell behind as the week progressed. The aerial action thriller has made RMB252 million (US$38.2 million) after ten days on release.

City of Rock was boosted by positive word-of-mouth, but it narrowly lost to Sky Hunter with RMB216 million (US$32.8 million) between last Saturday to this past Sunday. The comedy has, however, surpassed Sky Hunter’s gross with RMB258 million (US$39.2 million) after ten days on release.

According to local media, total box office for the eight-day holiday was RMB2.61 billion (US$396 million), representing a 51% year-on-year rise and setting a new record for the holiday period. The previous record holder was 2015 with RMB1.85 billion (US$281 million).

Last year, the total box office for the seven-day National Day holiday period was RMB1.58 billion (US$240 million), which marked the first decline for the holiday slot in a decade.

Thai heist thriller Bad Genius (ฉลาดเกมส์โกง) and Jeff Lau’s You’ve Better Run (你往哪裡跑) open this weekend.