China's film industry has achieved a new milestone, with the daily box office revenue reaching a record 1.805 billion yuan ($249 million) on Wednesday, coinciding with the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year.
According to the China Film Administration (CFA), both the box office earnings and the number of moviegoers—totaling 35.15 million—surpassed the previous records set during the 2021 Chinese New Year. The Spring Festival holiday, which runs from January 28 to February 4 this year, is traditionally one of China's most lucrative movie-going seasons and has been extended by one day compared to previous years.
The impressive figures are attributed to the debut of six domestic films that topped the box office charts on Wednesday. These movies span a diverse range of genres, including Chinese mythology, wuxia (martial arts and chivalry), comedy, fantasy, animation, and drama, catering to a wide array of audience preferences.
Huajin Securities noted that these new releases are installments in highly rated, high-grossing franchises with strong reputations and large fan bases. The diversity in genres and the strength of these film franchises have played a significant role in attracting audiences back to cinemas.
In an effort to stimulate the film industry and encourage moviegoing, the CFA has since December encouraged relevant institutions to allocate approximately 600 million yuan in moviegoing consumption subsidies. Analysts believe this measure aims to unlock the full consumption potential of moviegoers and boost the domestic film market.
Looking ahead, Kaiyuan Securities predicts that total box office takings during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday will see a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase, reaching 8.54 billion yuan. This optimistic forecast reflects confidence in the continued growth and resilience of China's film industry.
Reference(s):
China sees new daily box office revenue record during Spring Festival
cgtn.com
