China’s Summer Film Revival Surpasses Pre-COVID Levels, Box Office Tops $2.84 Billion

China’s Summer Film Revival Surpasses Pre-COVID Levels, Box Office Tops $2.84 Billion

China’s film industry is experiencing a remarkable revival this summer, surpassing pre-COVID levels and raking in a staggering box office revenue of over 20.6 billion yuan ($2.84 billion) by the end of August. This resurgence in the film market indicates a strong recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

Compared to the summer of 2019, the total gross this year has seen a significant increase from 17.78 billion yuan. Notably, the summer box office earnings even exceeded the combined earnings of the 2020 to 2022 summers, which were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, amounting to 20.137 billion yuan. This demonstrates the resilience and loyalty of Chinese moviegoers who have eagerly returned to theaters.

The summer box office has achieved several milestones this year. From June 21 to Aug. 31, the daily box office surpassed 100 million yuan for 72 consecutive days, setting a new record. Moreover, from Aug. 4 to Aug. 16, the daily earnings even surpassed 200 million yuan, indicating the strong appeal and popularity of this year’s film releases.

Five films emerged as the frontrunners of this summer season, each earning more than 1 billion yuan. These include the thrilling anti-telecom-fraud movie No More Bets, the captivating crime thriller Lost in the Stars, the immersive Chinese mythological epic Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, the powerful cage boxing drama Never Say Never, and the visually stunning animated epic Chang An based on China’s ancient poets. These films have become cultural phenomena in China, sparking enthusiastic discussions among audiences.

Joining the top 10 summer films are also the street dance drama One and Only, the sci-fi monster blockbuster Meg 2: The Trench from Warner Bros. Pictures, the Hollywood alien robot blockbuster Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the Chinese education drama Papa, and the poignant drama Love Never Ends about China’s elders. These films have collectively contributed to the record-breaking summer box office performance.

Not only has the box office revenue soared, but the number of moviegoers has also reached new heights. The total number of admissions during this year’s summer season surpassed 503 million, slightly exceeding the figure recorded in the 2019 summer season. Furthermore, the occupancy rates in theaters have also bounced back, reaching 12% – almost the same level as in 2019. This indicates the strong recovery and resurgence of the film industry.

Even IMAX China celebrated historic success during this summer season, generating 710 million yuan in box office earnings. This figure surpassed the previous record set in 2019, highlighting the continued popularity of IMAX screenings among Chinese moviegoers.

This impressive performance in the summer box office has significantly raised expectations for the overall annual box office takings. By the end of August, the cumulative box office takings for 2023 reached 42.8 billion yuan, accounting for approximately 67% of the total earnings in 2019. Moreover, the total number of movie admissions has already surpassed 1 billion, exceeding the figure for the entirety of 2022.

While domestic films have enjoyed tremendous success, Hollywood blockbusters have underperformed in the Chinese market this year. Only one Hollywood film, Fast X, managed to gross 984 million yuan and secure a spot on the annual top 10 list.

With summer coming to an end, all eyes are now on the upcoming back-to-back eight-day National Day holiday and Mid-Autumn Festival, which are poised to bring another wave of blockbuster releases. Movie enthusiasts can look forward to highly anticipated movies such as Zhang Yimou’s anti-corruption crime thriller Under the Light, Chen Kaige’s war epic The Great War, and Herman Yau’s action-packed film Moscow Mission, featuring cross-border crime-fighting on a train.

In conclusion, China’s film industry has experienced an extraordinary summer season, surpassing pre-COVID levels and witnessing record-breaking box office earnings. The success of domestic films and the enthusiastic response from Chinese moviegoers have propelled the industry’s remarkable revival. As the year progresses, the film industry anticipates further growth and success, showcasing a vibrant and resilient market that continues to captivate audiences.