China’s film industry achieved a historic milestone during the Spring Festival as the daily box office revenue soared to 1.805 billion yuan ($249 million) on Chinese New Year’s Day, marking the highest single-day earnings in the country’s cinematic history.
Record-Breaking Attendance and Box Office Revenue
On January 29, 2025, a total of 35.15 million moviegoers flocked to cinemas, surpassing previous records set during the 2021 Chinese New Year. The China Film Administration confirmed that this year’s Spring Festival film lineup, featuring six highly anticipated domestic movies, had already amassed over 1 billion yuan ($139 million) in pre-sales.
Industry forecasts suggest that the total box office revenue for the 2025 Spring Festival holiday (Jan. 28 – Feb. 4) could reach 8.4 billion yuan, with some analysts projecting 9.7% year-on-year growth, bringing the total to 8.8 billion yuan.
Strong IPs and Sequels Drive Box Office Surge
Chen Jin, a data analyst at Beacon, attributed this year’s strong box office performance to:
- Proven IPs with large fan bases
- Diverse genres appealing to broad audiences
- Established filmmakers and actors with a strong box office track record
All six films released for the 2025 Spring Festival are part of popular franchises or adaptations of classic Chinese stories.
Top-Grossing Films of the Spring Festival
The highest pre-sale earner is “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”, directed by Tsui Hark and starring Xiao Zhan. The adaptation of Jin Yong’s wuxia classic has surpassed 310 million yuan in pre-sales.
Other blockbuster sequels include:
- “Detective Chinatown 1900” – Latest in the hit “Detective Chinatown” franchise, with 210 million yuan in pre-sales.
- “Ne Zha 2” – The long-awaited sequel to the 2019 animated sensation “Ne Zha”, also exceeding 210 million yuan in pre-sales.
- “Creation of the Gods II” – The follow-up to the successful 2023 summer release, earning about 180 million yuan in pre-sales.
Government Support and Audience Incentives
To revitalize the film industry and encourage cinema attendance, the China Film Administration launched a nationwide movie-going promotion campaign from December 2024 to February 2025. The initiative, supported by China UnionPay and Taopiaopiao, has allocated 600 million yuan in consumer subsidies, offering discounts and incentives for moviegoers.
A Promising Year for China’s Film Industry
With record-breaking box office figures, strong audience engagement, and government-backed incentives, China’s film industry is poised for significant growth in 2025. As high-quality domestic productions continue to dominate, the Chinese box office is set to reclaim its status as a global leader in cinema.
