China's cinema industry showcased its cultural diversity and post-pandemic recovery as box office earnings soared past 700 million yuan ($96.28 million) during the five-day May Day holiday, according to industry tracking platforms. A unique mix of heartwarming entrepreneurship stories, financial thrillers, and nostalgic anime classics drew record crowds to theaters across the Chinese mainland.
Andrew Lau's 'The Dumpling Queen' dominated charts with 210 million yuan ($28.9 million) in ticket sales. The inspirational drama, starring comedian-actress Ma Li, chronicles a Hong Kong street vendor's rise as a frozen food magnate – a narrative resonating with both business-minded viewers and culinary enthusiasts.
Global film lovers witnessed a historic moment as Studio Ghibli's 1997 environmental masterpiece 'Princess Mononoke' debuted in Chinese mainland theaters, securing third place. The screening coincides with renewed commercial collaborations between Chinese filmmakers and Japanese animation studios.
Hong Kong's signature financial noir genre made strong showing with Herman Yau's 'A Gilded Game,' featuring Andy Lau in a Wall Street-inspired tale of market manipulation. The film's 168 million yuan ($23.1 million) haul highlights continued cross-strait creative synergies in East Asian cinema.
