In a landmark achievement for the film industry, China's box office revenue for 2025, including advance ticket sales, has officially crossed the 10-billion-yuan (nearly $1.4 billion) mark.
Cumulative box office earnings in China have surpassed those of North America, placing China at the top of the global box office rankings. This unprecedented surge highlights China's growing influence in the global cinematic landscape.
As of 3:30 p.m. on Monday, the box office for the Spring Festival period reached a new historical record of 8 billion yuan (over $1.1 billion), according to data from the National Film Administration.
Leading this success is the animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2, which has already outperformed last year's Spring Festival champion, Yolo. The film has shattered over ten national box office records and is now poised to become the all-time highest-grossing film in China's cinema history.
In 2019, Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child (Ne Zha 1) stunned the movie industry with 5 billion yuan (around $690 million) in earnings. Now, Ne Zha 2 returns with a more compelling storyline and breathtaking visuals, sparking widespread discussion and enthusiasm among audiences.
Not long ago, Chinese studios were seen as Hollywood's \"back office,\" handling minor visual effects for U.S. films. As China's film industry grew, many productions outsourced work to foreign studios. But that's changing. China's computer-generated imagery (CGI) industry is stepping forward, helping tell stories rooted in Chinese culture.
The success of Ne Zha 2 not only reflects the advancements in China's CGI capabilities but also a growing appetite for stories that resonate with cultural heritage. This shift signifies a new era where Chinese cinema plays a pivotal role on the global stage, both artistically and economically.
