China’s box office rebounded strongly in 2025, reaching RMB51.83 billion ($7.41 billion) with 1.24 billion admissions, a year-on-year increase of more than 20%, according to Maoyan Entertainment’s research division.
The growth was largely driven by animated films and franchise releases. Of 57 animated titles released, revenue exceeded RMB25 billion ($3.57 billion), nearly half of the total box office.
Leading performers were the local sequel Ne Zha 2 ($2.13 billion) and Disney’s Zootopia 2 ($558.3 million), both showing high rewatch rates and strong audience engagement.
The year also saw growing concentration around major releases. Among the top ten new films, four earned over RMB3 billion ($429 million) and eight surpassed RMB1 billion ($143 million).
While local productions slightly increased their market share, mid-tier films faced declining revenues, highlighting a growing divide between blockbusters and smaller releases.
Lower-tier cities contributed significantly to growth, reaching a five-year high in box office receipts. More first-time and infrequent moviegoers attended cinemas, and local films increasingly focused on relatable stories and diverse genres. Imported superhero franchises, however, experienced declines.
Maoyan analyst Lai Li said the 2025 results show that the traditional “blockbuster model” no longer guarantees success.
Looking to 2026, the industry aims to attract diverse audiences with high-quality, fresh content and strong word-of-mouth appeal.
