China's 2026 Spring Festival box office had surpassed five billion yuan (about 723 million U.S. dollars) as of Sunday evening, with domestic racing-comedy "Pegasus 3" leading the market, according to online ticketing platforms.
The number of moviegoers during the ongoing 2026 Spring Festival holiday, which runs from Feb 15 to Feb 23, has exceeded 100 million. During the holiday, a wide range of blockbuster films across different genres and themes have premiered in theaters across the nation, providing the perfect backdrop for family reunions and festive fun.
Topping the Spring Festival sales chart was "Pegasus 3," the third installment in Director Han Han's racing-comedy franchise starring Shen Teng, one of China's most bankable comedic actors. Spy thriller "Scare Out," directed by Zhang Yimou, secured the second spot on the chart.
It was immediately followed by "Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert," an action film featuring Chinese martial arts. The animated film "Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector" came in fourth place.
Leveraging the surge in movie-going during the Spring Festival holiday, many regions across the country have rolled out measures to boost related spending, such as bundling movie tickets with shopping and dining vouchers. Meanwhile, China has overtaken North America as the world's top-grossing film market for the time being, with its 2026 box office revenue (including pre-sales) surpassing 7.5 billion yuan (about 1.09 billion U.S. dollars) as of Saturday.
China's 2026 Spring Festival box office surpasses 5 billion yuan
