China's 2026 summer box office surpasses 2025 total

(ECNS) -- China’s 2026 summer box office reached 11.967 billion yuan ($1.78 billion) as of 6:24 p.m. Thursday, surpassing the 11.966 billion yuan recorded during the entire 2025 summer season, according to real-time data from Beacon Professional.

The TioChew Association of Thailand holds a special screening event for the movie "Dear You" in Bangkok, August 2, 2026. (Photo: China News Service)

The summer movie season runs from June 1 to Aug. 31. Domestic films currently occupy four of the top five spots at the box office. Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer leads the rankings, followed by the animated film All Wishes Come True! and Once Upon A Time in the Middle East. Spider-Man: Brand New Day ranks fourth, followed by Dear You.

Beacon Professional analyst Chen Jin said cinema admissions have grown notably faster than box office revenue so far this summer.

Premium-format screenings have also contributed to box office growth. China’s IMAX box office has reached 711 million yuan ($105.8 million) this summer, up from 532 million yuan ($79.1 million) during the same period last year. The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and All Wishes Come True! together account for nearly 80% of the IMAX total.

(By Helen Mo, intern Yang Hongran)