Multiple listed companies have invested in films scheduled for the 2026 Chinese New Year holiday period. As of February 9, eight movies have confirmed their release dates for the 2026 Spring Festival season. By the time of reporting, the total box office revenue for these new releases, including pre-sales and limited screenings, has exceeded 24 million yuan.
The films set to debut on the first day of the Lunar New Year include "Pegasus 3," "Boonie Bears: Annual Adventure," "Blades of the Guardians: Desert Storm," "Awakening Silence," "Starry Dreams," and "Panda Plan: Tribal Encounter." Additionally, the documentary "Return to the Wolf Pack" will be re-released on the third day of the holiday, while the comedy "Night King" is scheduled for release on the fourth day.
Notably, IMAX screenings have become a significant contributor to box office growth during recent Spring Festival periods. The preference for premium viewing experiences has emerged as a distinct market trend, with high-format cinema revenues reaching record levels in 2025. During the 2026 holiday, three films—"Pegasus 3," "Blades of the Guardians: Desert Storm," and "Awakening Silence"—will be available in IMAX theaters.
Industry analysis suggests the 2026 Spring Festival market may shift from the 2025 pattern of "one dominant film with several strong competitors" to a more balanced "multiple strong contenders" landscape. Analytical data indicates that Spring Festival box office revenue has demonstrated consistent growth over the past decade, rising from 1.451 billion yuan in 2014 to 9.514 billion yuan in 2025, representing an increase of more than 5.5 times. Since 2020, holiday season revenue has stabilized above 6 billion yuan, with the 2025 period setting a new record of 9.514 billion yuan, largely driven by the performance of "Ne Zha: The Devil's Chaos." This reaffirms the explosive potential of China's film market. The Spring Festival period represents the ultimate demonstration of market momentum and audience enthusiasm, with four of the top five single-day box office records in Chinese cinema history occurring on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Prospective audience data reveals significant demographic variations among the upcoming releases: "Awakening Silence" shows particular appeal among younger and female viewers, while "Blades of the Guardians: Desert Storm" attracts predominantly male audiences. "Boonie Bears: Annual Adventure" demonstrates overwhelming interest in third and fourth-tier cities, whereas "Pegasus 3" and "Panda Plan: Tribal Encounter" respectively show the highest interest levels among viewers aged 25-29 and those over 40.
Several publicly traded companies have invested in the upcoming holiday releases, including MAOYAN ENT, Bona Film Group Co.,Ltd., China Film Group Co.,Ltd., Wanda Film Holding Co.,Ltd., Hengdian Entertainment Co.,Ltd., and Beijing Enlight Media Co.,Ltd.
From a regional perspective, lower-tier markets continue to play a crucial role in determining Spring Festival performance. Data indicates that third and fourth-tier cities have contributed more than half of the total holiday box office for three consecutive years. The "Four Northern Provinces" (Shanxi, Henan, Shandong, and Hebei) along with Jiangsu, Anhui, and Jiangxi regions remain strategically vital markets. Jiangsu Province has maintained its position as the top-performing region for Spring Festival box office for five consecutive years, driven by strong performances from multiple prefecture-level cities including Yancheng, Nantong, and Taizhou.
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