Blockbuster Year for Animation Fails to Lift China’s Film Market
Listen to the full version
China’s box office revenue climbed 22% in 2025 to 51.8 billion yuan ($7.4 billion), lifted by a record-breaking animated hit even as the broader industry continued to wrestle with structural headwinds.
The animated hit “Nezha 2” became the country’s all-time box office leader, grossing 15.4 billion yuan during the Spring Festival in late January. That success pushed the total number of cinema admissions to 1.2 billion — up by 227 million from the year before — even though the number of screenings and average ticket prices remained flat, according to data from the China Film Administration and ticketing platform Maoyan.
Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.
Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.
- RELATED
- DIGEST HUB
Digest Hub
Back
- China’s 2025 box office revenue rose 22% to 51.8 billion yuan ($7.4 billion), driven by “Nezha 2,” which earned 15.4 billion yuan and became China’s all-time box office leader.
- Total admissions reached 1.2 billion but revenue still lagged pre-pandemic 2019 by 12 billion yuan, and the market faced challenges from shifting demographics and digital competition.
- Animation had record sales (25+ billion yuan), while foreign films, especially from the US and Japan, saw limited success amid rising geopolitical tensions.
- Maoyan
- Maoyan is a ticketing platform that provides data on China's box office performance. In 2025, Maoyan's data, along with information from the China Film Administration, indicated a total of 1.2 billion cinema admissions. Additionally, Maoyan data showed an increase in U.S. film releases and a decline in the share of Japanese releases in 2025.
- Beijing Top Century Consultation Co. Ltd.
- According to a November report by Beijing Top Century Consultation Co. Ltd. (北京世纪鲲鹏国际咨询有限公司), moviegoers under 24 accounted for only 15% of the audience in 2025, a significant decrease from 38% in 2019. Conversely, the 30-39 age bracket now represents 40% of viewers, indicating a shift in audience demographics.
- China Beacons Institute
- A study by the China Beacons Institute, in conjunction with the China Film Association, revealed a shift in audience demographics. Their findings indicate a growing share of older, female viewers from lower-tier cities, highlighting the film industry's difficulty in attracting younger audiences.
- 2024 and 2025：
- For the second year in a row, total box office earnings were surpassed by the mini-drama market.
- Late January 2025：
- The animated hit 'Nezha 2' became China’s all-time box office leader, grossing 15.4 billion yuan during the Spring Festival.
- April 2025：
- Box office receipts during the Qingming holiday were slashed in half.
- April 2025：
- China’s film authority announced a moderate reduction in imported U.S. films after President Donald Trump reignited a trade war.
- May 2025：
- Box office receipts during the May Day holiday were slashed in half.
- Late Summer 2025：
- Dragon Boat Festival and late summer brought modest box office rebounds.
- Early October 2025：
- Revenue for the National Day holiday fell 13% from the previous year.
- November 2025：
- A report by Beijing Top Century Consultation Co. Ltd. showed that moviegoers under 24 accounted for just 15% of the audience in 2025.
- Late November 2025：
- Some Japanese film releases were temporarily halted amid bilateral tensions.
- End of 2025：
- Year-end box office revenue exceeded 5 billion yuan for the first time in eight years.
- MOST POPULAR
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook
Sign in with 财新