Millions flock to cinemas across capital during break
Beijing saw a busy film market during the recent eight-day Spring Festival holiday, with box-office revenue reaching about 265 million yuan ($36.86 million).
The city allocated 20 million yuan in subsidies for people to watch films during the holiday, covering more than 250 cinemas across Beijing. According to preliminary statistics from the Beijing Municipal Film Administration, the cinemas welcomed more than 4.44 million people to 96,300 screenings.
Compared to the 2023 Spring Festival season, the number of people and screenings increased by 23.34 percent and 45.47 percent respectively.
Both the number of viewers and screenings reached a historical high for the period. The box office revenue and number of people at the Jackie Chan Cinema (Wukesong branch) both ranked first among cinemas nationwide.
Zhang Wei, manager of Deliao International Cinema, told Beijing Daily that YOLO, short for You Only Live Once, was the highest selling and audiences were mainly female. A woman surnamed Jin said she visited the cinema for Jia Ling, director of the film, and was moved by a line in the film: “I’ll live for myself during the rest of my life.”
Yang Ge from China Film Archive said that although the film was adapted from a Japanese one, its localization was good. It essentially narrates how a common woman becomes better. The film’s theme is not profound and easy to understand, so it attracted many people.
Article 20, directed by Zhang Yimou, discussed serious topics related to justifiable self-defense and struck a chord with audiences. Insiders said the film is both funny and sad and suitable for people of different ages.
Pegasus 2, directed by Han Han, offers exciting racing scenes and is full of humor. Meanwhile, Boonie Bears: Time Twist, the latest installment in the Boonie Bears animated film series, was another popular hit during the holiday. The series has attracted many viewers in recent years and became a mustsee for many families during the Spring Festival holiday.