China’s movie industry has smashed records once again! On Wednesday, during the Spring Festival—also known as Chinese New Year—the country’s daily box office soared to a new high of 1.805 billion yuan (approximately $249 million). This impressive feat outpaced the previous records set during the 2021 Chinese New Year, according to the China Film Administration (CFA).
With over 35 million moviegoers flocking to cinemas on that day, both the box office revenue and the number of viewers reached unprecedented levels. The Spring Festival holiday, one of China’s most lucrative movie-going seasons, runs from January 28 to February 4 this year, extending one day longer than in previous years.
The surge in ticket sales was driven by six highly anticipated domestic films that premiered on Wednesday. These movies span a variety of genres—including Chinese mythology, wuxia (martial arts and chivalry), comedy, fantasy, animation, and drama—offering something for every audience.
Analysts at Huajin Securities highlighted that the diverse range of genres caters to the tastes of different viewer groups. Many of these films are part of popular franchises with strong reputations and dedicated fan bases, contributing to their box office success.
Since December, the CFA has been encouraging institutions to allocate around 600 million yuan in movie-going consumption subsidies. This initiative aims to unlock the full consumption potential of audiences, making cinema experiences more accessible.
Looking ahead, Kaiyuan Securities predicts that total box office earnings during the Spring Festival holiday will see a 6.7% year-on-year increase, reaching an estimated 8.54 billion yuan. If these projections hold true, it would mark another significant milestone for China’s booming film industry.
