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China's box office revenue for 2023 approaches $3 billion as of May
CGTN
A man walks past some movie posters at a cinema in Zunyi, Guizhou, on Jan. 22, 2023. /CFP
A man walks past some movie posters at a cinema in Zunyi, Guizhou, on Jan. 22, 2023. /CFP

A man walks past some movie posters at a cinema in Zunyi, Guizhou, on Jan. 22, 2023. /CFP

The Chinese movie market has seen an exceptional performance in recent months, with total revenue surpassing 20 billion yuan (less than 3 billion U.S. dollars) as of Sunday.

Topping the charts is the highly acclaimed "Full River Red," directed by Zhang Yimou, which has raked in 4.54 billion yuan so far. The sci-fi blockbuster "The Wandering Earth II" and the animation "Boonie Bears: Guardian Code" follow in second and third place, respectively, according to Lighthouse data, one of China’s big data platforms.

Looking at the global movie market, China's performance has also been on a stellar trajectory.

According to data from Maoyan, global box office takings for the year hit $10 billion as of May 6, with China's mainland ranking first overall with $2.952 billion.

Theaters in Shanghai enjoyed high audience numbers in April 2023. /CFP
Theaters in Shanghai enjoyed high audience numbers in April 2023. /CFP

Theaters in Shanghai enjoyed high audience numbers in April 2023. /CFP

"Avatar: The Way of Water" ranks as the global box office champion of the year to date, with takings of $1.126 billion, while "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Full River Red" rank second and third.

The industry's soaring success can be attributed to the diverse range of movies released this year, catering to the varied interests of audiences.

More than ten new films came out over this year's May Day holiday, covering topics such as the military and legal issues, and spanning genres including comedy, romance, and animation.

This diverse supply enriched the movie market and catered to the viewing needs of different audience groups, showcasing the creativity of Chinese filmmakers and signaling the strong recovery of the movie market.

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