Hollywood Sequels Poised to Boost China’s Year-End Box Office
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Director James Cameron will attend the Chinese premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash. Photo: IC Photo
A slate of major blockbusters is set to light up China’s box office at the end of the year, led by the confirmation that “Avatar: Fire and Ash” will premiere on the Chinese mainland on Dec. 19, simultaneously with its North American release.
Director James Cameron is scheduled to attend the film’s Chinese premiere, which will be held during the seventh Hainan International Film Festival, the festival’s organizers announced on Oct. 9. The release follows Disney’s Sept. 29 announcement that “Zootopia 2” will hit Chinese theaters on Nov. 26.
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- “Avatar: Fire and Ash” will premiere in China on Dec. 19, 2024, alongside North America; “Zootopia 2” releases Nov. 26.
- China’s 2025 box office has already surpassed 2024’s total by Oct. 2, but holiday periods underperformed.
- Chinese films “Resurrection” (Nov. 22) and “The Sun Rises on Us All” (Nov. 7) both received major international film awards.
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Who’s Who
- Disney
- Disney's "Zootopia 2" is set to release in Chinese theaters on November 26. The original "Zootopia" was a massive success in China, becoming the second-highest-grossing film in the country in 2016 and receiving a high rating on Douban. The timely arrival of such highly anticipated Hollywood sequels, including those from Disney, is expected to significantly boost China's box office at the end of the year.
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What Happened When
- 2009：
- The original 'Avatar' film was released and became the highest-grossing movie of all time globally.
- 2016：
- The original 'Zootopia' was the second-highest-grossing film in China, earning 1.5 billion yuan.
- Late 2022：
- 'Avatar: The Way of Water' was released, aiding box office recovery after Covid-19.
- Sept. 29, 2025：
- Disney announced that 'Zootopia 2' will hit Chinese theaters on Nov. 26, 2025.
- Oct. 2, 2025：
- As of this date, China's total box office revenues in 2025 had already surpassed the 2024 full-year figure.
- Oct. 9, 2025：
- The organizers of the Hainan International Film Festival announced that James Cameron would attend the Chinese premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash.'
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