China’s total box office of this year has exceeded 16.8 billion yuan (about 2.48 billion U.S. dollars), driving the output value of the entire industry to over 260 billion yuan.
As of 15:00 on Sunday, the total box office revenue for China’s summer movie season, running from June 1 through Aug 31, has exceeded 1.14 billion yuan, and the box office during this year’s Dragon Boat Festival holiday has continued to rise, reaching 360 million yuan.
China's movie market is experiencing an unprecedented boom during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with nearly 20 films put on screens across the Chinese mainland, the highest number of releases for the same holiday period in a decade.
The released films span a range of genres, including spy thriller, romance, suspense, animation, action, and teen comedy, offering a cinematic feast for audiences of all ages.
Released on Friday, Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's spy drama "I Know Who You Are" is one of the holiday releases. It follows a police officer's long-term investigation of a suspected spy neighbor that spans nearly four decades. Notably, the story unfolds in Beijing's hutongs (alleyways), weaving together personal drama and historical change.
Domestic sci-fi film "The Boy Who Counted Cars" explores a world where the virtual and real intertwine. The film follows a young man who believes he is the only real person in a simulated world and embarks on a journey to uncover reality after meeting a quirky young woman.
Romantic crime film "Invictus" follows a young man who finds hope in love but is soon plunged into crisis, as he and his partner confront hardship and stand up for their sense of justice.
The holiday lineup also includes the Hollywood animated film "Toy Story 5," the latest installment in the beloved franchise. Set against a digital-age backdrop, the film continues the series' trademark warmth and humor while highlighting the survival challenges faced by traditional toys amid technological change.
"Dear You," a low-budget film shot largely in the Chaoshan (Teochew) dialect, follows a debt-ridden young man who travels from the Chaoshan region in south China, one of the major origins of the Nanyang migration, to Thailand in search of his grandfather and uncovers a family secret linked to "qiaopi," letters and remittances sent home by overseas Chinese. The mainland movie has already embarked on its global release journey, having been premiered first in Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and other countries and regions.
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it is celebrated on Friday and the holiday runs from Friday to Sunday.
China's 2026 box office tops 16.8 bln yuan
