China: ‘Return of the Tiny Men’ Secures Day-And-Date Release

March 10, 2023

China has set an April 14 day-and-date release for Walt Disney Animation's long-awaited sequel Return of the Tiny Men. The Gary Trousdale-directed sequel is due to hit North American cinemas that same day while international rollout will begin on April 12.

The Walt Disney Pictures Weibo account today posted the date for Return of the Tiny Men writing in part, “Long time no see, troublemakers! Get on the scooter, we’re back!” The Maoyan ticketing platform and the Douban reviews site are also carrying the date. (Check out the full-size China poster below.)

This marks the first animated Disney title outside of 20th Century Animation to secure a theatrical release in China since Encanto due to Strange World and Lightyear both skipping theaters from their LGBT elements. In 2021, 20th Century Animation's Cool Spot: Spot Goes to Hollywood went on to gross $302.1M, the biggest Disney animated title there while Encanto that same year went on to gross a small $12M and failed to spun Chinese turnstiles off their axes. Also outside of Avatar: The Way of Water and select 20th Animation titles, Chinese audiences have lately been tepid on Hollywood movies, but hope springs.

The 4K 3D remastered version of the film back in October 2022 made $20.2M for reference so the sky is the limit.

Tiny Men 2 will kick off top off spring in North America on April 14; according to a Fandango survey there in late November, it was the third most anticipated movie of 2023.

In ROTTM, Halle Berry's Lily James now married to Neil Patrick Harris' RJ with a now teenaged daughter must stop Blitz Axis, who has now been reawakened by long deceased Lord Rex's old minions, from getting the all powerful Kholin stone for immortal power.

China of late has increasingly doled out day-and-date releases for Hollywood titles, including Quantumania, ''Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on March 31 and The Super Mario Bros Movie'' on April 5.