2025’s Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) has established a new box office milestone by amassing a staggering RMB 9.51 billion (approximately $1.3 billion) from January 28 to February 4. This surpasses the previous record of RMB 8.02 billion, demonstrating that moviegoers are investing more in cinema experiences during this celebratory season.
On January 29, the box office experienced its highest single-day income yet, earning approximately RMB 1.8 billion ($247.5 million) across all films. This record-breaking pace continued each day, with daily takings consistently surpassing RMB 1 billion (around $137.5 million), maintaining a pattern of substantial earnings for the rest of the week.
During the recent period, I’ve noticed an unprecedented surge in cinema-goers, as the total number of movie tickets sold skyrocketed to a record-breaking 187 million! That’s according to Maoyan, of course. This spike indicates that folks are eagerly flocking to theatres, captivated by the enticing films unveiled for the Spring Festival.
Among the top-performing films this year, “Ne Zha 2” is a notable success, raking in an impressive RMB 4.84 billion (approximately $665.6 million) at the box office thus far. This animated movie has set a new standard, earning its highest revenue on its peak day, and it has surpassed previous records for box office sales during the Chinese New Year season. Consequently, it now holds the title of the highest-grossing film during this timeframe in China’s cinema history.
The sequel to the movie “Ne Zha,” titled “Ne Zha 2, has already outperformed its predecessor, which was released in 2019, and is rapidly approaching The Battle at Lake Changjin, the top-grossing Chinese film of 2021. If predictions hold true, “Ne Zha 2” is expected to finish with an impressive RMB 8.7 billion (approximately $1.2 billion), making it the first movie ever to earn over a billion dollars in a single country.
Should the box office revenue of Ne Zha 2 exceed the $936.7 million earned by Star Wars: The Force Awakens in North America, it would make Ne Zha 2 the highest-earning film in a single market.
For the Spring Festival holiday season, “Detective Chinatown 1900” came in second place, raking in approximately $313.5 million (2.28 billion RMB). Other notable films that performed well include “Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force,” which grossed around $137.2 million (998 million RMB), “Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants” with $81.3 million (591.5 million RMB), “Boonie Bears: Future Reborn” earning $70 million (508.6 million RMB), and “Operation Hadal” which made $40 million (290.8 million RMB). These movies are still playing in theaters, adding to their earnings.
A significant portion of this outstanding achievement can be traced back to a promotional initiative supported by the government, which provided approximately $83 million in ticket discounts to cinema-goers. This attractive offer, combined with regional marketing efforts, helped boost ticket sales.
Moreover, during this timeframe, most of the movies that hit the screens were either continuations of existing series or adaptations of well-known tales and personalities, drawing in massive crowds because these films appealed to the fanbase that was already invested in these franchises.
According to Stanley Rosen, a China specialist and professor at USC, the appeal and excellence of the movies significantly contributed to their achievement.
Almost all the highly-rated movies belonged to well-known film series, attracting audiences who were excited to catch the latest addition to their cherished collection of films.
During the Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, movie theaters usually experience peak profits. However, substantial earnings during this specific period don’t automatically mean that the market as a whole has fully recovered.
Although the success might seem surprising after a slump in 2024 when the movie market contracted by 25% compared to the previous year, Rosen posits that this success could be part of a broader pattern in China. This trend indicates that people are increasingly investing in entertainment, even during economic hardships faced by the country. This is particularly noticeable among the younger generation who might be grappling with unemployment or job insecurity.
As we move forward, it remains uncertain how the popularity of Chinese films during the Spring Festival will impact Hollywood movies in China. Previously, China has approved several Hollywood films, suggesting a potential relaxation of censorship rules. In fact, two American films managed to rank among the Top 10 of that year.
As a cinephile eagerly anticipating the future, I can’t help but ponder over the intriguing question of how major Hollywood releases will fare in China towards the end of 2025. Titles like “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire & Ash” catch my eye, not only because they promise an exciting cinematic journey, but also because they offer valuable insights into how the Chinese market might respond to big-budget foreign productions in the coming years.
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2025-02-05 14:44