Avengers: Endgame, the 22nd film produced by Marvel Studios, took 4.25 billion yuan in China to rank the third highest-grossing film in the country last year. The other import in the top 10 was Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, a spinoff of the Fast & Furious franchise, which ranked 10th.

Figures from the China Film Administration show that 1,037 movies were produced domestically last year. However, the top 10 took 30.3 billion yuan, or 47 percent of the box office tally for the entire year, indicating that a majority of filmmakers behind small- and middle-budget movies have been struggling to survive.

Rao, from China Film Critics Association, said, "A film usually needs two to three years' preparation. So, most of the runaway hits last year received their financing in 2017 or even earlier, when the market was more prosperous and attractive to cash-rich investors.

"But blockbusters in 2019 received more feedback and online praise than those in the recent past, showing that Chinese filmmakers are putting more effort into seeking breakthroughs in quality and storytelling, and giving us expectations of a promising future."

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