China's daily box office shattered previous records on Wednesday, the Spring Festival, as moviegoers flocked to cinemas across the country. The day saw an unprecedented 1.805 billion yuan ($249 million) in earnings, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese film industry.
According to the China Film Administration (CFA), the number of moviegoers reached 35.15 million on that day. Both the box office revenue and attendance surpassed the previous records set during the 2021 Chinese New Year, highlighting the robust recovery and growth of China's cinematic market.
The Spring Festival holiday, running from January 28 to February 4 this year, is traditionally one of China's most lucrative movie-going seasons. This year's festival extends one day longer than previous years, offering audiences more opportunities to enjoy the latest film releases.
Leading the box office are six new domestic films that premiered on Wednesday. These films span a diverse array of genres, including Chinese mythology, wuxia—a genre featuring martial arts and chivalry—comedy, fantasy, animation, and drama. This variety caters to a wide range of audience preferences, ensuring there's something for everyone during the holiday.
Huajin Securities noted that these new releases not only offer diverse genres but also include installments of highly rated, high-grossing franchises with strong reputations and large fan bases. This strategic lineup is expected to drive significant box office success throughout the festival.
To further stimulate movie-going consumption, the CFA has encouraged relevant institutions to allocate approximately 600 million yuan in subsidies since December last year. Analysts believe this initiative aims to unlock the full consumption potential of audiences, boosting the film industry's growth.
Looking ahead, Kaiyuan Securities predicts that total box office takings will see a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase, reaching 8.54 billion yuan during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday. This optimistic forecast underscores the sustained momentum and promising future of China's film market.
Reference(s):
China sees new daily box office revenue record during Spring Festival
cgtn.com
