China's cinema industry has staged a dramatic comeback as its 2025 summer box office revenue surpassed last year's total, powered by a late-season wave of homegrown blockbusters. Preliminary data reveals earnings of 11.64 billion yuan ($1.64 billion) from June 1 to August 31 – already exceeding 2024's full-season results – with final figures expected to reach 12 billion yuan after weekend screenings.
The resurgence marks a significant turnaround for the world's second-largest film market, where domestic productions claimed four of the top five spots. Historical drama Dead to Rights, depicting events from the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, led the charge alongside animated spinoff Nobody and Jackie Chan's action-packed The Shadow's Edge. Tang Dynasty-era story The Lychee Road and Universal's Jurassic World Rebirth rounded out the chart-toppers.
"This summer proved domestic storytelling remains king," Maoyan analyst Lai Li told Xinhua, noting that strategic late-season releases transformed a sluggish first half into a record-breaking season. The performance signals both renewed consumer confidence and the growing sophistication of China's film industry as it continues to drive cultural and economic development.
