Chen Kaige Shines as China's National Day Box Office Exceeds One Billion

Chen Kaige's Film Leading Box Office Amid Pandemic Challenges

China's box office for the ongoing National Day holiday has remarkably surpassed the billion-yuan mark within just three days, showcasing a notable comeback following the pandemic's significant impact on the film industry. According to Dengta Data, this year's figures reached over 1 billion yuan by Thursday morning, highlighting Chen Kaige's anticipated success with his historical war film, The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death, which has topped the box office with around 364 million yuan from 8.7 million tickets sold.

Other Major Releases Contribute to Strong Opening

Despite a strong start, with 494 million yuan on the first day, the revenue had a slower follow-up. Predictions indicate that total box office revenue for the holiday period could reach between 2 billion and 2.7 billion yuan. Last year's revenue was bolstered by the timing of the holidays and reached 2.73 billion yuan. The current holiday is crucial as it represents China's second-largest film season, following the Spring Festival holiday.

Industry Context: Continuing Recovery from Pandemic Impact

While the box office showed promise, the Chinese film industry continues to face challenges, with film revenues suffering due to lackluster summer results and a shift towards alternative entertainment like short videos. Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, and Zhang Zifeng also feature prominently in new releases, signaling a continued effort to attract audiences amidst evolving consumption patterns.