As China ushered in the Year of the Snake, millions chose to celebrate the first day of the Lunar New Year on Wednesday by flocking to cinemas, propelling the nation's box office to unprecedented heights.
By 4:23 p.m. on Wednesday, box office revenues during the Spring Festival holiday had soared past 2 billion yuan (over \$276 million), including pre-sold tickets, according to data from box office tracker Dengta Data.
This impressive surge is attributed to the release of six highly anticipated films: \"The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero\", \"Ne Zha 2\", \"Detective Chinatown 1900\", \"Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force\", \"Operation Hadal\", and \"Boonie Bears: Future Reborn\". Remarkably, the first four films each exceeded 200 million yuan in pre-sale ticket sales, marking the most successful pre-sale period in history.
The diverse lineup offers a rich tapestry of genres and themes, catering to a wide array of audience preferences. Compared to last year's Spring Festival selections, which were predominantly comedies and dramas, this year's offerings span mythology, epic tales, war stories, action-packed adventures, martial arts, animation, comedy, and science fiction. This variety ensures there's something for everyone, adding to the excitement among moviegoers.
The dynamic mix of films not only reflects the evolving tastes of Chinese audiences but also highlights the booming film industry in the country. With such a strong start to the Year of the Snake, industry insiders are optimistic about the continued growth of China's cinema sector in the year ahead.
Reference(s):
China's Spring Festival holiday box office tops $276 million
cgtn.com
