Jay Thaker
Film Critic & Columnist
James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continued its reign over the China box office during the Dec. 26–28 weekend. The film earned RMB166.4 million ($23.4 million), pushing its local cumulative total to RMB700 million ($98.6 million), According to Artisan Gateway.
Disney’s “Zootopia 2” maintained its second-place ranking, grossing $15.2 million during its fifth weekend. The animated sequel has now amassed $558.3 million in China, securing its status as one of the market’s highest-grossing releases of the year.
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Maoyan Movie’s new release, “The Fire Raven,” debuted in third place with $2.8 million. Directed and written by Sam Quah, the crime thriller follows a cold case surrounding the murder of a student in Duma City. The plot tracks a witness and a police officer as they are drawn into a wider web of corruption and retribution. The film stars Peng Yuchang, Alan Aruna and Chang Ning.
Romantic Dramas and Thrillers Round Out Top Five
The romantic drama “Love Is Hard,” from NCM Television, took the fourth spot with $2.1 million, moving its total to $4 million. Directed and co-written by Dong Xu, this third entry in the “Qing Sheng” series explores a marriage facing a trust crisis. The story uses elaborate schemes and misunderstandings to drive a couple into wildly comedic territory. The ensemble features Xiao Yang, Tan Zhuo, Qiao Shan, Chang Yuan and Zhang Xiaowan.
Dirty Monkeys Studio’s “Escape From the Outland” filled the fifth spot, earning $1.7 million for a total of $2.7 million. Directed by Shen Ao, the film stars Yang Xiao, Xi Qi and Simon Yam. The narrative focuses on a foreign correspondent, his wife and an engineer who face abduction by an extremist group while on assignment abroad.
China Box Office Sees Significant Annual Growth
Overall, the China box office generated $48.6 million for the weekend. The 2025 year-to-date total now stands at $7.26 billion, which runs 23.1% ahead of the same point in 2024, According to Artisan Gateway.