China's overseas box office tops 133 mln U.S. dollars so far this year

Chinese films have raked in more than 133 million U.S. dollars at the overseas box office so far in 2025, marking a record-breaking year for the country's cinematic exports, according to the National Film Administration.

Fifteen of the top 20 highest-grossing Chinese films have been released outside the mainland this year, the administration said.

During the Spring Festival film season, major holiday-season titles, such as "Ne Zha 2,"  "Detective Chinatown 1900," "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force," and "Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants," were simultaneously released in multiple countries and regions.

Among those blockbusters, the animation "Ne Zha 2" has been screened in over 770 theaters across North America since Feb 14, setting new records for Chinese-language films in the region over the past two decades in both presales and screenings. The film has since grossed more than 68 million U.S. dollars overseas and ranks among the top five films globally by total box office revenue.

Meanwhile, the epic fantasy film "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force" has been distributed in over 160 countries and regions, sparking a wave of interest in fantasy cinema in emerging markets such as South Africa and Egypt.

This summer, the historic dramas "Dead to Rights" and "Dongji Rescue" reached audiences in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Another historical drama "731", or "Evil Unbound," depicting the atrocities of Japan's notorious Unit 731 during World War II, has been screened in Australia, New Zealand and North America since its release in September. More than 130 theaters have screened the film in North America alone.

"Inspired by 'Ne Zha 2,' more production companies actively pursued overseas distribution. There is a growing number of Chinese films released abroad, and their reach is expanding. For instance, films such as 'Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants' have been screened in countries like Bulgaria and Iraq -- markets that previously saw little Chinese film presence," said Peng Kan, a lecturer at the School of Arts and Communication in Beijing Normal University.

China's overseas box office tops 133 mln U.S. dollars so far this year

The World Bank predicted Tuesday that energy prices may surge 24 percent in 2026 to their highest level since the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted in 2022 due to the war in the Middle East, while overall commodity prices are projected to increase 16 percent.

In its latest Commodity Markets Outlook released on Tuesday, the World Bank said that attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 35 percent of global seaborne crude oil trade, have triggered the largest oil supply shock on record, with an initial reduction in global oil supply of about 10 million barrels per day.

Fertilizer prices are projected to increase by 31 percent in 2026, driven by a 60-percent jump in urea prices, while prices for base metals, including aluminum, copper and tin, are expected to reach all-time highs.

Precious metals prices are forecast to increase 42 percent as geopolitical uncertainty fuels demand for safe-haven assets.

Commodity prices could rise even higher if hostilities escalate or supply disruptions from the Iran war last longer than projected, the report said.

Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group's chief economist and senior vice president for Development Economics, said the war is hitting the global economy in cumulative waves, warning that poorer populations will be hardest hit.

World Bank forecasts 24-pct surge in energy prices in 2026