China's National Day box office tops 300 million yuan on day 1

China

China's National Day box office tops 300 million yuan on day 1

2025-10-02 16:23 Last Updated At：19:27

China's National Day film season opened with a robust 322 million yuan (about 45.23 million U.S. dollars) in box office revenue on its first day, with the war epic "The Volunteers: Peace at Last " dominating ticket sales, according to online platform data.

The film, focusing on the final stages of the 1950-1953 Korean War, topped the daily chart, followed by fantasy sequel "A Writer's Odyssey 2" and historical drama "Evil Unbound" which depicts the atrocities committed by the notorious Japanese germ warfare Unit 731 during World War II, in second and third places respectively.

This year's holiday lineup features over 10 new releases spanning genres from war and fantasy to comedy and animation, with several summer hits extending their runs to meet sustained audience demand.

"Serial and IP-based films have become the mainstream of this year's National Day film season. For example, 'The Volunteers: Peace at Last' is the third installment in a series. Its first two parts were both released during previous National Day periods, accumulating nearly 50 million viewers, demonstrating a substantial audience base. Meanwhile, 'A Writer's Odyssey 2' is a sequel following the success of its commercial predecessor, featuring very distinct genre characteristics," said film data analyst Chen Jin.

Animation offerings show a clear trend toward cross-generational appeal. "Three Kingdoms: Starlit Heroes" reinterprets historical figure Cao Cao, while "I am Bond, GG Bond" marks the tenth installment in the popular series, expanding beyond its traditional child audience to broader family entertainment. Sci-fi animation "Zap's Last Stand" creates a digital metropolis inhabited by personified computer programs.

Comedy remains a holiday staple, with "Row to Win" delivering family-friendly humor about a household overcoming life's challenges together.

The lineup is further enriched by extended screenings of summer hits including "Nobody," "Dead to Rights," "The Legend of Hei 2," and "The Shadow's Edge," offering diverse options throughout the holiday period.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.