China's 2025 summer box office revenue exceeded 11 billion yuan (about 1.53 billion U.S. dollars) as of Sunday, with domestic productions dominating the top three spots, according to ticketing platforms.
"Dead To Rights," a film about the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, has led with 2.75 billion yuan (about 383 million U.S. dollars) in ticket sales since its July 25 release.
In the second place is "Nobody," a spinoff from the acclaimed "Yao-Chinese Folktales" animation series. Since opening on Aug 2, the film has set a record for the highest-grossing two-dimensional animated release in China.
"The Lychee Road," a bittersweet period drama adapted from a bestselling novel set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), holds third place.
China's summer movie-going season, running from June 1 through August 31, has showcased the strength of domestic films which continue to captivate audiences with compelling storytelling and cultural resonance.
The year-to-date box office has already hit 38.33 billion yuan (about 5.35 billion U.S. dollars), with 887 million moviegoers contributing to a commanding 89.2-percent market share for Chinese productions.
China's 2025 summer box office surpasses 11 bln yuan
China's 2025 summer box office surpasses 11 bln yuan
Analysts have warned of more significant economic pain for Lebanon after its conflict with Israel reignited this month amid wider Middle East tensions, with many expecting the new flare up to have a devastating impact on the country's economy.
Joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb 28 have since spiraled into a wider conflict as Iran fired back with retaliatory strikes on numerous targets across the region, with fears growing over mounting casualties, continued disruption, and far-reaching political and security repercussions.
Lebanon became directly involved in the conflict after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel last week, prompting Israeli airstrikes and the capture of several positions in southern Lebanon.
The death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 486, with more than 1,300 others injured, Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health said on Monday.
Israel is increasing its deployment of troops and tanks near its border with Lebanon as it intensifies its battle against Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has pledged that it will not back down, despite the Lebanese government's declaration that its military activities are illegal.
The ongoing fighting has already displaced over half a million people, and analysts are now concerned that the Israeli airstrikes and the resulting exodus will severely impact the Lebanese economy.
"The conflict has erupted, and no one knows its full impact for now because we don't know how long it will last. If it continues for a long time, our economy can fall to figures below zero because we will lose all activity we have recovered. This means someone holding the Lira currency will hesitate to spend it because no one knows how this conflict will end," said Mohamed Shams Eldin, an author and researcher for Information International, an independent regional research and consultancy firm based in Beirut.
"All companies and traders prefer cash payments for their goods and services on the spot. The cash economy has deepened amid the current crisis, and the country is in a standstill. Foreign investors are avoiding Lebanon. I think they stay away because of the lack of trust. They fear they will lose their money, and if we face a crisis every year or year and a half, investors will prefer to put their money into other countries," said economic analyst Nadim Al Sabeh.
Lebanon has been grappling with numerous challenges in recent years, beginning with a wide-ranging financial crisis which plunged the country into severe debt. This was then exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a catastrophic explosion at Beirut's port in 2020, before a series of conflicts between Hezbollah and Israel starting in 2023 brought more misery.
The current conflict with Israel has disrupted many economic operations, leading to widespread displacement and putting pressure on the government to cover the costs. For a services-oriented economy like Lebanon's, this now threatens an economic collapse.
"Given the current circumstances, Lebanon doesn't have millions of tourists like Egypt or Türkiye. Therefore, remittances are the foundation of our economy. One million Lebanese citizens, or 250,000 families rely on these remittances. It's why the U.S. dollar cash flow in the market here surpasses that of any other country -- people have lost trust in banks," said Eldin.
Renewed fighting with Israel threatens to collapse Lebanese economy: analysts
