New Year Box Office Boom: China's box office revenue surpasses 276 million USD
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China's film market is off to a strong start this year. 

Data from online platforms indicates that, as of 5 pm on Wednesday, total box office revenue, including pre-sales, has surpassed 2 billion yuan.

That's about 276 million US dollars, marking a strong start to the 2025 Spring Festival film season.

Meanwhile, total moviegoers have reached 30.76 million, significantly exceeding the same period of last year's Spring Festival.

Leading the box office are the animated sequel of "Ne Zha", the comedy-mystery Detective Chinatown 1900, and the epic mythological blockbuster Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force.

In December, the China Film Administration launched a movie-going promotion project. 

During the project, which runs through February, supporting organizations will contribute 600 million yuan, or 82 million US dollars, in subsidies for moviegoers. 

Day one of the holiday has already set a new record. 

Six domestic films hit cinemas on Wednesday, with four surpassing 200 million yuan in pre-sales by the first morning of screenings – a first in Chinese film history. 

SHEN YAN Theater manager "This year's Chinese New Year season is the strongest yet. Even morning screenings are 60 to 70 percent full - some are completely sold out. Family comedies and detective thrillers are especially popular."

Among the highly anticipated releases is Ne Zha 2, a sequel to the animated film inspired by Chinese mythology. 

MOVIEGOER "The sequel is even better – funny, touching, and the sound effects are amazing!"

MOVIEGOER "Watching a movie is a great way to celebrate the New Year. Nowadays Chinese animations have breathtaking special effects."

MOVIEGOER "This cinema is new, with super comfortable chairs – it makes the whole experience so much better."

This year's holiday lineup features a record number of visual effects blockbusters. 

Some productions incorporated AI-generated content (AIGC) for ultra-realistic visuals. 

Cinemas have also upgraded their facilities to enhance viewing experiences. 

SHEN YAN Theater manager "All six films are available in CINITY format, which runs at 60 frames per second, compared to the traditional 24. Our 16-meter screens bring high framerate and dynamic images to life, and audiences love it."

HUANG FEI Guangzhou "Another key driver of this year's box office boom is subsidized tickets. Discounts from local governments, film producers, and ticketing platforms have made movie-going a lot more affordable. At some cinemas, tickets are as low as 19.9 yuan – less than three U.S. dollars."

With higher-quality films, diverse genres, and deeper cultural connections, this year's Spring Festival box office is set for a blockbuster finale. 

Huang Fei, CGTN, Guangzhou.