Dead To Rights

Source: China Film Group

‘Dead To Rights’

China’s summer box office reached $1.67bn (RMB11.97bn), up 2.76% year-on-year, as historical war film Dead To Rights emerged as the biggest hit of the season.

Cinema admissions grew 12.75% year-on-year to 321 million, representing the second-highest summer season figures in the past five years, according to a report released by Maoyan Entertainment based on data from the Maoyan Research Institute.

The average ticket price during the season (June 1 - August 31) dropped to $5.17 (RMB37.2) – the second lowest in five years – due to the lowering of distribution fees and cinema ticket subsidy campaigns, while the average occupancy rate was the second highest over the same period. The report indicated that this flexible pricing strategy has proven effective in stabilising the market and driving audience enthusiasm.

The top three highest-grossing films were all local productions: Dead To Rights, animation Nobody and action heist film The Shadow’s Edge, which accounted for nearly half of the total summer box office, demonstrating a more pronounced “Matthew Effect” - that success leads to more success - compared to 2023, the report noted.

Dead To Rights ($401.4m/RMB2.9bn) and Nobody ($202.1m/RMB1.45bn) were the only two films that crossed the RMB1bn ($140.2m) milestone, on par with 2024. Dead To Rights is directed by Shen Ao and is set against the backdrop of the Nanjing Massacre of 1937 while Nobody, directed by Yu Shui, follows a pig, toad, weasel and orangutan on an adventure.

Despite a relative scarcity of major blockbusters, more mid-range films grossed between RMB500m and RMB1bn by targeting niche audiences and genres.

The overall market share of local films rose slightly, with Nobody smashing a new record for 2D animated films in China. The report suggested that the film provided a new model for original domestic IP and continued the momentum of Ne Zha 2 in raising the box office ceiling for local animations.

International films continued their two-year recovery trend, with Jurassic World Rebirth proving the biggest summer import with takings of $78.75m (RMB567m). The top 10 also included local animation The Legend Of Hei 2, F1: The Movie and The Stage, which found success by catering to the varied tastes of different audience segments.

“Despite fluctuations in the film market following the Spring Festival holidays and a relatively ‘slow start’ to the summer, several bright spots have emerged,” said Lai Li, a market analyst at Maoyan Entertainment.

The remarkable performance of multiple animated films, the growth potential in the senior cinemagoer segment driven by The Stage, and the ongoing IP development created new opportunities for the industry, he noted.

Looking ahead, he said: “The Chinese film market needs to focus more on content creation itself, using diverse, high-quality content to meet the increasingly sophisticated, segmented, and rational demands of the audience, thereby promoting stable and prosperous market development.”

According to data provided by Artisan Gateway, The Shadow’s Edge topped the August 29-31 weekend with $26.3m (RMB189.1m) for a cumulative $121.9m (RMB878m). That weekend added $76.4m, bringing China’s 2025 running total earnings to $5.46bn, up 18% on the same period last year.

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