China's film industry output tops 817 billion yuan in 2025

Chinese cinema is no longer confined to the theater. In 2025, the industry generated over 817 billion yuan (approximately $117 billion) in total output value, according to the China Film Administration.

Film-related activities created another 339.1 billion yuan in spillover value. That means movies now shape consumption, tourism and the creative industries, while helping traditional culture reach new audiences in new forms.

The 2026 Spring Festival season offers a clear example of this cultural reach. With a record nine-day holiday window, the lineup was designed to cover multiple age groups and genres. "Blades of the Guardians" revived wuxia, a Chinese martial arts genre centered on honor, swordplay and heroism. "Pegasus 3" continued its high-energy story of ambition. "Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector" targeted family viewers. Together, these films reach different audiences at the same time, showing how cinema can spread culture across generations.

The spillover value of film goes even further, with the 2025 summer breakout "Nobody" being a case in point. After becoming the highest-grossing 2D animated film in Chinese box-office history, the story moved off-screen. More than 800 licensed products and partnerships with over 40 brands carried the IP into restaurants and games.

Its impact extended even further. The film drew visual inspiration from the historic architecture of Shanxi Province, including temples in Datong and Taiyuan. Following its release, themed travel routes invited audiences to step into the story's real-world settings. Cinema and cultural heritage met not through promotion alone, but through experiences.