By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE
CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE
互联网新闻信息许可证10120180008
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
A view of a movie theater in Nanjing, China, January 25, 2025. /CFP
New films debuting during the Chinese New Year holiday season have raked in over 1 billion yuan ($138 million) in total pre-sales as of Tuesday afternoon, hitting a milestone since pre-sales began over a week ago.
This year's lineup boasts unprecedented diversity, with the top five pre-selling titles spanning genres such as wuxia (martial arts), mythology, animation, suspense and action.
The average runtime of these films exceeds 137 minutes, setting a new record for the longest average duration in Chinese New Year cinematic history. Meanwhile, the minimum ticket prices for most blockbusters remain unchanged from last year.
Among the top five pre-sale films, The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero has swiftly surpassed 100 million yuan in pre-sales, leading the chart. Other titles, including Ne Zha 2, Detective Chinatown 1900, Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force and Operation Hadal, have each exceeded 20 million yuan in pre-sales.
Data reveals that over 25 percent of tickets purchased on the first day of pre-sales were for groups of three or more viewers – a five percent increase compared to last year, Wang Shu, a film data analyst, told China Media Group.
"This suggests that films during this year's Spring Festival season hold stronger appeal for family or group outings," Wang said.
Many films in this year's Spring Festival lineup are based on IP (intellectual property), meaning they leverage established content brands, Wei Pengju, dean of the Culture Economics Institute at the Central University of Finance and Economics, told CMG.
The Guochao (China-chic) trend has amplified movie market consumption, Wei said, adding that whether through traditional cultural themes or patriotic narratives, films infused with Guochao elements attract audiences not just to watch a movie, but to experience and affirm cultural identity.
However, audiences are not drawn into theaters by traditional cultural elements alone. It also requires high-quality production, a feat made possible by the rapid advancement of the entire cultural industry chain.
Advancements in special effects technology and the widespread application of AI-generated content (AIGC) are reshaping the entire film ecosystem – from pre-visualization and production to the viewing experience itself, Hu Ruiyan, deputy director of the Qingdao West Coast New Area Film and Television Industry Development Center, told CMG.
"These innovations are redefining modern cinematic storytelling," Hu added.