On the first day of the Year of the Snake, China's film industry celebrated a record-breaking start to the Spring Festival holiday. As of 4:23 p.m. on Wednesday, box office revenues, including pre-sold tickets, had surged past 2 billion yuan (over $276 million), according to box office tracker Dengta Data.
Six highly anticipated films premiered during the holiday: \"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\". Each of the first four titles surpassed 200 million yuan in pre-sale ticket sales, marking the most successful pre-sale period in China's cinematic history.
The diverse lineup offers something for everyone, ranging from mythology and epic tales to action-packed adventures and science fiction. Compared to last year's selection, which was dominated by comedies and dramas, this year's offerings encompass martial arts, animation, war stories, and science fiction, catering to a wide array of audience preferences.
Moviegoers across the country expressed excitement over the rich variety of films. \"There's so much to choose from this year,\" said Li Ming, a resident of Beijing. \"It's great to see such diversity in genres during the holiday.\"
The booming box office figures reflect the growing enthusiasm for domestic films and the strong resurgence of China's film industry amid the festive season. Industry analysts predict that this momentum will continue throughout the holiday, setting new records for ticket sales and audience numbers.
Reference(s):
China's Spring Festival holiday box office tops $276 million
cgtn.com
