Promotional material for The Wandering Earth II Photo: Courtesy of Douban
Editor's Note:
In 2023, a series of noteworthy topics have emerged in the Chinese cultural landscape. In the planning of the 2023 Cultural Gala, the Global Times will delve into nine important topics, aiming to showcase the multidimensional aspects of Chinese civilization and the diverse charms of Chinese culture.
This is the fifth installment of Global Times' Year-end Special on culture, which examines the remarkable box office recovery of China in 2023 dominated by domestic films.
Promotional material for Barbie Photo: Courtesy of Douban
In 2023, the Chinese film market demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, signaling a robust recovery post-pandemic. China's 2023 box office total topped 53 billion yuan ($7.47 billion) as of Tuesday, according to Chinese online ticketing platform Maoyan. This achievement, though not surpassing the pre-pandemic high of 64 billion yuan in 2019, indicates a significant rebound and potential for further expansion of the Chinese film industry.
The top 10 earners of the year are all domestic films. Based on data from Maoyan, which has tracked yearly box office numbers since 2011, there has been only one instance in 2020, in which domestic films completely occupied the top 10 spots in the annual box office rankings.
Experts suggest that the growing popularity of domestic films can be attributed to the progressive improvement of China's film industry. These films are now more aligned with the aesthetic preferences and expectations of domestic audiences.
Solid dominance
Taking a look back on 2023, the Spring Festival's box office takings stood at 6.7 billion yuan, ranking second-highest from the holiday period, just behind 2021's record. Although the October National Day box office sales totaled 2.7 billion yuan, which was lower compared to the roughly 4 billion yuan recorded each year from 2019 to 2021, it still showed an increase from 2022's 1.5 billion yuan.
The summer season was particularly remarkable, amassing 20.6 billion yuan and surpassing the 20 billion yuan threshold for the first time in China's summer box office history. This achievement underscores the surging popularity and success of domestic films.
Crime thriller films Lost in the Stars and No More Bets, the first Chinese films to expose the inner workings of overseas online fraud, each achieved a box office of over 3.5 billion yuan during the summer season. Epic myth Creation of The Gods I: Kingdom of Storms and martial arts film Never Say Never both exceeded 2 billion yuan in box office sales, while animated film Chang An netted nearly 1.8 billion yuan in takings. Domestic media analysis pointed out that the market structure of Chinese cinema is becoming more rational and the foundation for sustainable development is increasingly solid.
Promotional material for No More Bets Photo: Courtesy of Douban
As the year draws to a close and the festive season is around the corner, a slew of highly anticipated films are set to make their debut in China's film industry. According to Maoyan, over 70 films are set to debut during the 2023 year-end holiday period, spanning from November 24 to December 31. This season has also seen a predominance of domestic releases. Among these are Wanda Pictures' Endless Journey, Feng Xiaogang's If You Are the One III, Shining for One Thing based on a hit TV series, and the historical action film Heroes of Dunhuang, all anticipated to generate substantial box office revenue. Promotional material for Oppenheimer Photo: Courtesy of Douban
Several upcoming films have already sparked significant interest among the public. The comedy film Johnny Keep Walking! set to be released on December 29 is a case in point. The satirical comedy addresses workplace issues like overworking, ineffective jargon-filled communication, and various struggles faced by people who are at the bottom of the corporate ladder.
The box office revenue of the film's test screening and pre-sales combined exceeded 330 million yuan as of Sunday noon according to information on Maoyan. It has scored a formidable 9.6 out of 10 in ratings. It has also generated buzz on social media. Many viewers noted that they couldn't stop laughing at the film's sharp workplace-based satire. "I literally felt like every shot was a scene remade from my life. The film is as funny as it is realistic," commented a netizen on a related post on Sina Weibo. 
Domestic movies have generated about 83 percent of China's total movie ticket sales in 2023, based on information from the Beacon film data service. Also, 2023's top 10 highest-grossing movies in China are all domestic works. This dominance raises questions about the role and influence of Hollywood in the Chinese market. Hollywood, while still a significant player, is facing increased competition from a thriving Chinese domestic film industry.
Shi Wenxue, a film critic based in Beijing, told the Global Times the growing interest in Chinese films coincides with a decrease in the appeal of Hollywood movies among Chinese viewers. "In the last two years, it's become especially clear that audiences prefer movies set within their own cultural contexts. For instance, Hollywood blockbusters or their politically correct movies resonate well with American viewers. Similarly, in China, films centered around Chinese culture or reality better resonate emotionally with Chinese audiences and therefore are more popular," Shi said.
However, it's not all doom and gloom for Hollywood in China. Films like Warner Bros' Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer have performed well, indicating that stories resonating with Chinese audiences can still find success.
Holiday season movie-going has become a "new folk custom" in recent years, added Shi. More and more people decide to go out and catch a movie with family members and friends as it has become a lifestyle choice in line with social changes in people's lives.
"The pandemic impacted the global film industry, causing a downturn. As the global box office begins to rebound again in 2023, Chinese-produced cinema is leading the way," Zhang Peng, a film researcher at Nanjing University's National Research Center of Cultural Industries, told the Global Times.
Zhang noted that with the coming holiday season between the New Year and the Chinese New Year in 2024, the box office should show even more promise.
"The continued strength of Chinese cinema in 2024 is inevitable. It's worth looking forward to the film lineup planned for release in 2024. An estimated growth rate of around 30 percent might be conservative, and a 50 percent growth rate may be bold but imaginable," commented Zhang.
The resurgence of the Chinese movie industry is seen as a new dawn, overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic. The industry's strength and the innovative storytelling evident in globally well-received China-produced films like The Wandering Earth II or Sony Pictures' announcement that it was remaking Chinese film Hi, Mom has also contributed to China retaining its status as a major player in the global film market.
Looking ahead, the Chinese film industry appears poised for continued growth and innovation, and is ready to resonate with both domestic and international audiences. As the world recovers from the pandemic, the Chinese film market, with its cultural confidence and creative vigor, is set to remain a significant force in the global cinematic landscape.
