BEIJING — China’s theatrical market staged a significant recovery in 2025, with ticket revenue surging 20 percent year-over-year to reach $7.41 billion (51.83 billion RMB). This rebound follows a stark 23 percent decline in 2024, during which earnings plummeted to $5.8 billion. Total admissions also climbed by more than 20 percent, reaching 1.24 billion moviegoers.
The year’s success was propelled by a dominant animation sector, which accounted for nearly half of all sales. Domestic hit Ne Zha 2 shattered records with a $2.13 billion haul during the Lunar New Year, while Disney’s Zootopia 2 led Hollywood imports with $558.3 million by year-end. Despite this growth, analysts at Maoyan Entertainment warn of a “top-heavy” market where a few massive blockbusters thrive while mid-tier features continue to vanish.
Local productions maintained their market dominance, capturing 79.67 percent of total revenue. Beyond animation, domestic audiences gravitated toward grounded, human-scale war dramas like Dead to Rights ($431 million) and Evil Unbound ($270 million) over traditional sweeping sagas. Conversely, Hollywood superhero franchises faced diminishing returns, with major MCU and DC releases failing to clear $20 million.
Analysis: The Polarization of Global Cinema
The 2025 Chinese box office results highlight a deepening “blockbuster-or-bust” dichotomy that is reshaping the global film industry. While the 20 percent surge in revenue suggests a healthy recovery, the hollowing out of the “middle class” of cinema—films earning between $14 million and $70 million—presents a long-term risk to industry diversity.
This trend mirrors global shifts where audiences increasingly reserve theater visits for “event cinema.” For instance, Ne Zha 2 benefited from high repeat viewing rates, a phenomenon typically seen in massive franchises like Avatar. However, the failure of mid-tier films suggests that the “proving ground” for emerging directors is evaporating.
Furthermore, the “superhero fatigue” observed in China—evidenced by the tepid performance of Captain America: Brave New World ($14.4 million) and Superman ($8.9 million)—signals a shift in consumer appetite. Chinese viewers are no longer captivated by generic spectacle, preferring instead visually distinct animation or narratives that reflect everyday life and intimate human experiences.
