China’s vibrant movie market is kicking off 2025 on a high note as advanced ticket bookings for the Spring Festival holiday season have already surpassed 235 million yuan (approximately 32.7 million U.S. dollars) by Monday afternoon. This impressive milestone highlights the renewed energy in the world’s second-largest film market.
A Booming Start to the Spring Festival Movie Season
The Spring Festival holiday, running from January 28 to February 4, 2025, is a prime time for China’s moviegoers. This year, the holiday extends to eight days, offering an extra day for audiences to enjoy the cinematic lineup.
Pre-sale data reveals a record-breaking surge, with bookings surpassing 100 million yuan faster than ever. Analysts suggest that the 2025 season could set new benchmarks for both box office revenue and audience attendance.
Top Films Leading the Pre-Sale Charts
This year’s Spring Festival season features five highly anticipated domestic films, all scheduled to premiere on January 29, the first day of the Lunar New Year. Leading the pre-sale box office are:
- “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” – Directed by Tsui Hark, this adaptation of Louis Cha’s wuxia classic tops the charts with an impressive 110 million yuan in advanced bookings.
- “Ne Zha 2” – The sequel to the 2019 animated hit “Ne Zha” has secured 36.5 million yuan in pre-sales.
- “Detective Chinatown 4” – The latest installment in the popular franchise follows closely with a pre-sale box office of 34.8 million yuan.
The lineup reflects a diverse mix of genres, from martial arts epics to animated adventures and detective thrillers, catering to a wide range of audience preferences.
Government Support Fuels Market Momentum
To further invigorate the domestic film market, the China Film Administration has launched a 600-million-yuan subsidy program to promote movie consumption. Running until the end of February, this initiative aims to reduce ticket costs for audiences and stimulate increased cinema attendance.
A Promising Outlook for the Film Industry
The strong pre-sale performance signals growing consumer confidence in China’s film industry. With the combination of an extended holiday, government-backed promotions, and a lineup of blockbuster films, industry observers are optimistic about the potential for record-breaking box office results this Spring Festival.
As the first major movie-going season of 2025, the Spring Festival underscores the resilience and growth of China’s entertainment sector, solidifying its role as a global powerhouse in the film industry.
