On the first day of the Year of the Snake, Chinese cinemas saw a surge in attendance as millions celebrated the Spring Festival by watching films, propelling the box office to record-breaking sales.
As of 4:23 p.m. on Wednesday, China's box office revenue during the Spring Festival holiday, including pre-sold tickets, had exceeded 2 billion yuan (over $276 million), according to box office tracker Dengta Data.
Six highly anticipated films premiered during the holiday season: \"The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero,\" \"Ne Zha 2,\" \"Detective Chinatown 1900,\" \"Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force,\" \"Operation Hadal,\" and \"Boonie Bears: Future Reborn.\" The first four of these films each surpassed 200 million yuan in pre-sale ticket sales, marking the most successful pre-sale period in history.
The diverse lineup offers a rich array of genres and themes, catering to varied audience preferences. Unlike last year's Spring Festival, which was dominated by comedies and dramas, this year's selection includes mythology, epic tales, war stories, action-packed adventures, martial arts, animation, comedy, and science fiction. This variety ensures that there is something for everyone, and moviegoers are expressing heightened excitement.
The record-breaking box office reflects not only the strong appeal of the new film releases but also the robust recovery of China's film industry. With audiences eager to return to cinemas and celebrate cultural festivities, industry experts predict continued growth throughout the holiday period.
The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, is one of the most significant holidays in China, traditionally a peak season for film releases. This year's impressive box office performance underscores the public's enthusiasm for cinema as a key part of holiday celebrations. The surge in ticket sales also highlights the industry's resilience and the effectiveness of strategies to attract audiences with a variety of high-quality productions.
Reference(s):
China's Spring Festival holiday box office tops $276 million
cgtn.com
