Market share exceeds 28%; China's box office leads the world

At the ongoing National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the impressive achievements of high-quality development in Chinese cinema have become one of the topics of concern and discussion among delegates and members. As of now, China’s annual box office revenue accounts for over 28% of the global market, leading with high-quality content, a huge market, and industry innovation, achieving “continuous leadership.”

Since the beginning of 2026, the Chinese film market has continued its strong growth trend. To date, the total annual box office has approached 11 billion yuan, accounting for over 28% of the global market, surpassing the North American film market by about 2.5 billion yuan, and maintaining global leadership, becoming an important engine and driver for the recovery of the global film industry.

The National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference are underway. In this year’s government work report, it explicitly proposed promoting the creation of high-quality radio and television works and encouraging cultural products to go global. Delegates and members attending the conferences are also offering suggestions and advice on building a “strong film nation” to promote the “cultural power” through high-quality productions, industry integration, and talent development.

National Committee Member Fu Ruoqing: As a filmmaker, I feel very proud. We will expand and develop cinema culture and other directions, once again giving back to the audience.

National Committee Member Donnie Yen: Martial arts films have influenced movies worldwide for many years and continue to lead trends. I hope that in the years I still have energy, I can keep making more influential action films.

National Committee Member Zhang Kaili: A film that can be seen by audiences worldwide is key to helping them understand China’s current changes and culture, and to fostering interest in Chinese culture. As more and more foreign friends visit China, “travel China with movies” is very exciting to see.

Generally, everyone agrees that China leading the global film industry is a breakthrough and a new starting point. Delegates believe that under the promotion of the “2026 Film Economy Promotion Year,” the “Film+” consumption model is transforming screen popularity into tangible economic growth. Notably, viewers under 25 are rapidly increasing, with the combined share of two-person and group viewings exceeding 70%. It is clear that cinemas are no longer just places for film screenings but also important spaces for family reunions, friends gathering, and emotional exchanges.

Moreover, driven by the National Film Administration, various regions have launched diverse ticket subsidy programs this year, reducing average ticket prices by 6%, which has stimulated more people’s enthusiasm for watching movies. The Spring Festival film screenings set new records, reaching 4.35 million screenings.

A single movie ticket drives an entire consumption chain including dining, shopping, transportation, and cultural creativity, injecting strong vitality into the offline real economy. It is estimated that by 2026, the entire film industry chain’s output value will exceed 150 billion yuan.

Even more exciting is that since the beginning of this year, domestic films have not only supported the domestic market but also continued to attract overseas audiences. “Global simultaneous release” has become an increasingly common choice for many films. Meanwhile, overseas promotional activities like “Travel China with Movies” have attracted more international viewers to China to experience Chinese culture, natural scenery, and the era’s style through film and television.

As the delegates and members have said, China’s film industry, with excellent achievements and steadily increasing global influence, has written a vivid chapter for the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan.