MK socks Octopus with Broken Arms on display in a cinema in Shanghai on December 27, 2024 Photo: VCG " src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2024/2024-12-29/3cb27283-6db8-4e38-bf6a-fa6d5450dee5.jpeg" />

New Year's Eve movie theater posters includingBig World, Octopus with Broken Armson display in a cinema in Shanghai on December 27, 2024 Photo: VCG

The total box office for the advent of the New Year film period (from November 22 to December 31) surpassed 2.56 billion yuan ($351 million) on Sunday, with domestic films Her Story, Big Worldand The Prosecutorranking as the top three earners, China Central Television (CCTV) News reported on Sunday. 

The single-day box office for Saturday was 230 million yuan, the highest daily box office for December, according to Chinese ticketing platform Beacon.

Lai Li, a film data analyst, told the Global Times that the big variety of films during the New Year film season has provided Chinese moviegoers with more options.

Many film insiders pointed out that word-of-mouth continues to be a critical factor in attracting audiences.

According to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan, films such as The Prosecutor, starring Donnie Yen Chi-Tan, and Big World, starring Jackson Yee, both crossed the 100 million yuan mark after their premieres on Friday. These films have also received high ratings of 7.3 and 7.4 out of 10 on the Chinese review website Douban.

In addition, the newly released crime suspense film Octopus with Broken Armshas also made a splash, grossing 144 million yuan in just two days.

Comedic films, a staple for the New Year season, are set to entertain audiences during the New Year's Day holiday with titles such as domestic films Honey Money Phonyand Hot Pot Artist, and British animated film Paddington in Peru.

"The concept of the New Year film season as a distinct timeframe has started to take shape, with strong box-office performance for two consecutive years," Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times.

Sun noted that the New Year season, which spans a relatively long period from New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and leading up to the Spring Festival in late January 2025, would provide a fresh timeframe structure for film creation and production in China.

The 2024 New Year's film season saw Chinese romance film Shining for One Thingbecome a hit due to its "snowfall" special movie-watching experience in cinemas after screenings. The film finally grossed a satisfying 702 million yuan during the film season.

In the upcoming 2025, Chinese cinemas are again offering a festive atmosphere, with special screenings that include a "bubble fireworks" movie-watching experience for the romantic comedy Honey Money Phonyand a New Year's Eve "cherry blossom shower" movie-watching experience for the Japanese anime film Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital, the seventh theatrical installment of the series.

Many of these special screenings in Beijing have already sold out on multiple Chinese ticketing platforms. 

Many Chinese netizens have left messages on social media, saying that such an immersive movie experience is a "romantic and unforgettable" way to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Lai noted that these immersive special screenings have had a positive impact on the New Year's Day film market, attracting large fan bases and boosting both the popularity of films and box-office revenue. 

"For audiences, the New Year is a time for romantic and heartwarming films, and these special events enhance the overall experience. We look forward to the 2025 New Year season living up to expectations and being an exciting opening to the movie market at the start of 2025," he said.