China's three-month summer movie season closed on Monday with an all-time high total box office revenue, according to official data released on Tuesday.
Data released by the China Film Administration show that this year's summer box office earnings totaled 12.498 billion yuan (approximately 1.86 billion U.S. dollars), up 4.45 percent from the 11.96 billion yuan in the 2025 summer movie season.
Cinemas across the country saw record-setting figures with 340 million viewer admissions -- an increase of 5.86 percent year over year, and 38.51 million screenings in theaters, where Chinese productions claimed nearly 72 percent of the market.
This summer movie season featured more than 100 domestic and international productions across a wide range of genres, offering something for audiences of all ages and tastes.
Hong Kong director Stephen Chow's sports comedy Kung Fu Soccer about a team of female footballers was the top earner, followed by homegrown anti-war drama Once Upon a Time in the Middle East, Chinese animated sensation All Wishes Come True!, Sony-Marvel blockbuster Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Hollywood director Christopher Nolan's latest epic The Odyssey, and Chinese family drama Dear You.
Average ticket prices dropped to a 5-year low this summer season thanks to nationwide promotional campaigns, which helped drive cinema attendance to a new high.
Expanded infrastructure also fueled the boom. By the end of July, 363 new cinemas and 2,215 screens had been added nationwide, bringing theaters closer to audiences than ever before.
China registers strongest ever summer box office
China registers strongest ever summer box office
China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries in any way, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
Guo was responding to the baseless accusations made recently by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters on China's relations with Pacific island countries.
"China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. We have never shown any interest in, nor will we interfere in the internal affairs of any other country in any way. Regarding the remarks made by certain New Zealand official, they are completely unfounded. China has consistently upheld the principle of 'four fully respects' in developing its relations with Pacific island countries, and has no interest in, nor has it ever interfered in the internal affairs of any other country," said Guo.
The "four fully respects" refers to the principle where China fully respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific island countries, and upholds the equality of all countries, big or small; fully respects the will of Pacific island countries and follows the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits, and win-win results; fully respects the cultural traditions of Pacific island nations, and pursues harmony without uniformity and the common development of diverse cultures; and fully respects Pacific island countries' efforts to seek strength through unity and supports them in implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, so as to contribute to the building of a peaceful, harmonious, secure, inclusive, and prosperous Blue Pacific.
China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs: spokesman
