China's summer box office surges past one billion yuan mark

As of 10:19 a.m. on June 20, China's 2025 summer box office (including presales) has reached 1.02 billion yuan (about $139 million), according to data from BEACON Pro, one of China's movie data platforms. Leading the charts are "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," "Endless Journey of Love," "How to Train Your Dragon: A New Era," "Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Art World Tales," and "Lilo & Stitch."

Many upcoming summer releases and annual highlights have been showcased at the ongoing 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. This year's offerings from China's movie industry span a wide range of genres from animation and historical drama to suspense, catering to increasingly diverse audience preferences.

One notable entry is "Dongji Island," set for release on August 8. Based on a true World War II story, the film recounts how local fishermen from Dongji Island rescued over 300 British prisoners of war after a Japanese transport ship was sunk by a US submarine in 1942 near the Zhoushan archipelago.

Vice Chairman of the China Film Association, Yin Hong, noted that the richness of this summer's films in both themes and genres reflects the growing creative strength of Chinese cinema in portraying contemporary life and bringing historical narratives to the screen.