Eleven years after its debut, the Fast and Furious franchise is more lucrative than ever. The latest is the third film ever to break $1 billion in the box office. But is its success down to cars, girls and explosions? Or does it offer something no other franchise does – a cast as diverse as its audience?

WhileJurassic Worldhad the biggest opening weekend in US history this summer, Chinese box office records were being smashed by two different movies. The success of homegrownPancake ManandMonster Huntindicate that China has well and truly adopted the summer blockbuster.

In the summer of 2014, US box office figures were down 15%, and there were a string of spectacular film failures. The number of frequent moviegoers fell in every age group, but the biggest drop came from 18- to-25-year-olds. Has Netflix killed the blockbuster?

In 2015, China’s box office sales surpassed the US’ for the first time ever. With the number of people buying cinema tickets on their smartphone in China doubling over 2014, apps are becoming the key battleground to this nation’s growing appetite for big screen entertainment.