China's box office reached a new milestone on Wednesday during the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, with a record-breaking 1.805 billion yuan ($249 million) in daily revenue.
The impressive earnings surpassed the previous records set during the 2021 Chinese New Year, according to data released by the China Film Administration (CFA) on Thursday. On the same day, the number of moviegoers totaled 35.15 million, marking a significant increase in audience turnout.
The annual Spring Festival holiday, one of China's most lucrative movie-going seasons, runs from January 28 to February 4 this year, extending one day longer than in previous years. The extended holiday period is expected to contribute further to box office success.
Leading the charts are six domestic films that premiered on Wednesday, spanning a diverse range of genres including Chinese mythology, wuxia (martial arts and chivalry), comedy, fantasy, animation, and drama. These films have attracted a wide array of audiences with varied tastes.
Analysts from Huajin Securities noted that the variety of genres caters to different audience groups and that most of these films are installments in highly rated, high-grossing franchises with strong reputations and large fan bases. This combination is expected to drive sustained box office growth throughout the holiday period.
Since December last year, the CFA has encouraged relevant institutions to allocate approximately 600 million yuan in moviegoing consumption subsidies. Analysts believe this move aims to unlock the full consumption potential of moviegoers and boost the domestic film market.
Kaiyuan Securities predicts that total box office takings during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday will see a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase, reaching 8.54 billion yuan. The optimistic forecast reflects confidence in the continued growth of China's film industry.
Reference(s):
China sees new daily box office revenue record during Spring Festival
cgtn.com
