China has set a new box office record, with daily revenues reaching an impressive 1.805 billion yuan ($249 million) on Wednesday, the first day of the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year.
According to the China Film Administration (CFA), this remarkable achievement surpassed previous records set during the 2021 Chinese New Year. On the day, a total of 35.15 million moviegoers flocked to cinemas across the country to enjoy a diverse lineup of domestic films.
The 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.
Leading the box office charts are six new domestic releases that debuted on Wednesday, spanning genres from Chinese mythology and wuxia—featuring martial arts and chivalry—to comedy, fantasy, animation, and drama.
Financial analysts at Huajin Securities noted that these films cater to a wide range of audience preferences, and many are installments in highly rated, high-grossing franchises with strong reputations and dedicated fan bases.
Since December last year, the CFA has encouraged relevant institutions to allocate approximately 600 million yuan in moviegoing consumption subsidies—a move analysts say is aimed at unlocking the full consumption potential of moviegoers.
Kaiyuan Securities predicts that total box office takings during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday could see a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase, reaching 8.54 billion yuan.
The surge in box office revenues reflects not only the robust growth of China's film industry but also the increasing appetite of audiences for diverse and high-quality domestic productions. As the industry continues to evolve, stakeholders anticipate even greater achievements in the coming years.
Reference(s):
China sees new daily box office revenue record during Spring Festival
cgtn.com
