At the start of 2025, Chinese films, led by blockbusters like Nezha 2, have repeatedly shattered box office and audience records, marking a transformative moment for the global film industry.
Once widely believed to be in irreversible decline under the onslaught of the internet and artificial intelligence, China's film industry appeared to be struggling alongside the global cinema market. The days of crowded cinemas seemed to have faded into history. Just a year ago, after the Chinese New Year movie season, the country's box office experienced a sharp downturn, and many predicted it was impossible to revive its former glory. With Hollywood in steady decline, Bollywood on the brink of bankruptcy, and major films absent from the UK and France for nearly a decade, the global film industry looked bleak—and it seemed that China's film market was doomed to follow suit.
However, in February, as the early days of spring arrived in the northern hemisphere, everything changed. China's film market erupted with an unprecedented surge, reversing years of stagnation. The country's 90,000+ cinema screens have been buzzing with non-stop activity, while theaters across urban and rural China have resembled the crowded chaos of Chinese New Year travel. Even more surprisingly, this wave of enthusiasm has extended to North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, where Chinese New Year films have sparked renewed interest in cinemas that were on the brink of collapse.
Nezha 2 and other Chinese films have not only set new records for box office revenue and audience numbers in China but have also brought the global film industry a renewed sense of confidence. In just six weeks, Chinese box office revenue has surpassed the same period last year by over RMB 10 billion, setting a record high and securing China's position as the world's largest film market. These remarkable achievements demonstrate one key fact: cinema is far from obsolete, and great films will always be in demand.
How did China's film industry transform so dramatically in just one year? What exactly happened? These are the questions dominating discussions in the international film community.
According to industry insiders, this success was no accident. Shortly after this year's Chinese New Year movie season, a meeting held by the China Film Administration revealed a clear strategy: stabilize expectations, strengthen confidence, produce high-quality films, leverage weekend releases, and expand the "film+" concept. The goal is to sustain the current wave of enthusiasm, bolster consumer spending, and position Chinese films as a cultural "golden card" on the global stage.
Before the holiday season, the China Film Administration implemented an unprecedented series of initiatives. According to sources within China Film Group, as early as mid-2024, Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conducted multiple emergency surveys and made deployments to support the film industry. The team visited major film crews to coordinate progress and provide guidance at key stages of production and distribution. They also partnered with CCTV and local media outlets to promote films on a national scale.
In addition, the China Film Administration collaborated with China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Culture and Tourism to organize campaigns like "Experience Food Through Films" and "Travel Through Films." They partnered with China UnionPay and local film bureaus to launch consumer-friendly initiatives like the "Movie Discount Season" and worked with the National Copyright Administration to crack down on film piracy.
These efforts culminated in a custom-tailored promotional campaign for the Chinese New Year blockbusters. For the first time, CCTV's flagship program Xinwen Lianbo dedicated an entire week of coverage to the record-breaking success of Chinese New Year films.
China's film industry has gained a huge success, becoming a symbol of the country's economic confidence and resilience. Even in the Western media, there is no dispute over China's success. Behind the rise of Chinese cinema lies the power of the Chinese market, Chinese innovation, and Chinese creativity—an inspiring story for the world. As state media proudly declared, "The future of Chinese cinema is bright, and so is the future of China's economy!"
With such extraordinary achievements, who could possibly deny this?
(Source: Shanghai Observer)
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