In 2025, China's box office boom is spurring a consumption revolution beyond cinema theaters. 

As of Thursday night, revenue for year-end box office, a period running from November 28 to December 31, had surged past 4 billion yuan (approximately $570 million), including pre-sales, according to data from movie ticketing platform Maoyan Entertainment. It came days after the China Film Administration announced the annual box office had surpassed 50 billion yuan.

According to Artisan Gateway, "Zootopia 2" has grossed a staggering 3.55 billion yuan in China alone, a figure that, according to Box Office Mojo, accounts for nearly half of the movie's global box office, which stands at around $1.14 billion. 

This isn't just about one blockbuster; the bigger story here is one of China's market power.  

Beyond this impressive box office performance, China's film industry is unlocking a vast growth potential by using films as a launchpad for immersive experiences branching out into other industries through the "Film+" consumption model.

This year saw the launch of China Film Administration's "Chinese Film Consumption Year" initiative, which integrates film with other sectors like tourism and dining through brand collaborations. Cinema consumption vouchers and themed events have generated higher consumer spending across multiple industries. 

A flowering of film culture followed the "2025 Chinese Film Consumption Year: Beijing Film & Life Festival," launched in April, fusing film, dining, culture and tourism both online and offline. During the event, over 30 major commercial sections attracted 76.66 million visits, generating 25.17 billion yuan in personal spending.

Additionally, the film industry has opened up exciting avenues for IP-related cultural creativity products. For instance, the creators of the Chinese animation, "Nobody," began planning IP product lines well in advance, driving nearly 2.5 billion yuan in sales through authorized merchandise, according to China Media Group.

A melding of markets has China's film industry emerging as a key engine for driving consumption and economic growth, echoing the call for boosting domestic demand as a national strategy.