China's box office kicked off 2026 with a revenue of over 500 million yuan (about 71.5 million U.S. dollars) as of 14:58 Friday, during the three-day New Year film season that will end on Saturday.
Among the domestic films screened during the holiday season, realistic themes and emotional resonance have become the core keywords.
"Escape From The Outland" tells a true-based story of overseas Chinese civilians struggling to survive and rescue themselves in a war. Documentary feature "The Hump" recreates the historical scenes of the Chinese Air Force and the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) transporting supplies and engaging in aerial combat against Japanese invaders during World War II. The film fills a long-standing gap in visual portrayals of this subject and has emerged as a distinctive entry in the holiday season.
Apart from realistic films, the holiday season has also seen growing popularity in family-friendly comedies. The film, "Enough Is Enough," blends Kung-Fu elements with comedic set pieces. "Unexpected Family" focuses on people with Alzheimer's disease and calls on audiences to cherish time spent with loved ones.
As for imported films, notable titles included "Anaconda," "Eternity," "Dangerous Animals," "Robot Dreams," "Mercy," "Wicked: For Good," and "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Square Pants", catering to diverse viewer preferences.
China's New Year film season box office exceeds 500 million yuan
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday its air defense forces have shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone in the country's airspace.
In a statement posted on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC warned that it reserves the "legitimate and definitive" right to respond to any violation of the ceasefire reached last month between Tehran and Washington by the "aggressive" U.S. army.
The IRGC said its air defense forces have also detected and tracked an RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance aircraft and an invading F-35 fighter jet, "which had entered Iran's airspace in continuation of the terrorist U.S. army's interventionist adventurism in the region and aggressive behaviors," and forced them to flee by shooting at them.
Although the IRGC did not disclose the date of the clashes, its statement came one day after the U.S. Central Command said its military had struck missile launch sites and mine-laying boats in southern Iran on Monday.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported several explosions Monday night in the country's southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, adding that similar sounds were heard concurrently in the Gulf near the counties of Sirik and Jask in the same province.
Iran and the United States reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting. Following the truce, they held one round of peace talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to yield an agreement.
Over the past weeks, the two sides reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for peace through Pakistan's mediation.
Iran's IRGC says shot down U.S. MQ-9 Reaper in Iranian airspace
Iran's IRGC says shot down U.S. MQ-9 Reaper in Iranian airspace
