China's National Day box office falls to 1.165 billion yuan as crime drama leads
Representative image: pompi / Pixabay
China's National Day holiday film season ended on 8 October 2026 with 1.165 billion yuan ($173 million), below last year, as crime drama Traces of Justice led.
What Happened
China's National Day holiday film season ended on Thursday, 8 October 2026, with total box office takings of 1.165 billion yuan, about 173 million dollars, according to the ticketing platform Maoyan. The total was lower than last year's holiday, China's state news agency Xinhua reported. A crime drama, Traces of Justice, led the holiday with about 420 million yuan, and Chinese-made films accounted for 78.7% of revenue. Official data cited by Chinese state media showed daily takings stayed above 100 million yuan on each of the seven main holiday days.
Key Facts
- Holiday season total: 1.165 billion yuan (about 173 million dollars), according to Maoyan; China Film Administration data put the seven-day holiday above 1.16 billion yuan.
- The market dipped compared with last year's National Day holiday, according to Xinhua.
- In 2025, Maoyan had reported holiday takings, including presales, of more than 1.6 billion yuan by midday on the holiday's Tuesday.
- Top film: Traces of Justice, a crime drama, with about 420 million yuan.
- Second: Mr. and Mrs. Pardon, about 240 million yuan; third: Resident Evil, about 170 million yuan in its first three days, per Maoyan.
- Domestic films took 78.7% of the holiday's revenue.
- Admissions topped 31.99 million, while the number of screenings rose 2.21% from a year earlier and average ticket prices slipped 0.77%.
Why It Matters
China is one of the world's biggest film markets, and the week-long National Day holiday in early October is one of its key moviegoing seasons, alongside the Lunar New Year. Results from these holidays are watched closely by studios in China and abroad as a measure of how willing Chinese audiences are to go to cinemas.
This year's figures point to a softer market. The total was below last year, even though the number of screenings went up and ticket prices fell slightly. More screenings with lower takings suggest cinemas offered more shows without drawing a matching rise in audiences, a sign that demand is not keeping pace with supply. The holiday also lacked the kind of breakout hit that can lift a whole season.
The 78.7% share for domestic films shows how strongly Chinese productions led their home market this holiday. The presence of Resident Evil in the top three shows that some foreign franchises can still draw audiences, especially in genres such as horror and action.
For India's film industry, the results are a reminder that big markets face a similar question: how to bring audiences back to cinemas at a time when streaming offers so much at home.
| Film | Holiday takings (Maoyan, approximate) |
|---|---|
| Traces of Justice | 420 million yuan |
| Mr. and Mrs. Pardon | 240 million yuan |
| Resident Evil | 170 million yuan (first three days) |
| Holiday total | 1.165 billion yuan |
Impact
Short-term: Studios with films in Chinese cinemas may adjust release and marketing plans for the rest of the year after a soft holiday.
Long-term: If holiday takings keep slipping, Chinese cinema chains may cut screenings or rethink ticket pricing, and foreign studios may treat China as a less reliable source of box office revenue.
Who is affected: Chinese film studios and cinema chains; Hollywood and other foreign studios that release films in China; and investors in the entertainment sector.
Key Takeaway
China's 2026 National Day holiday box office came in at 1.165 billion yuan, below last year, with a domestic crime drama leading a market dominated by Chinese films.
Questions and Answers
How much did China's National Day holiday box office earn in 2026?
The holiday film season ended on 8 October 2026 with 1.165 billion yuan, about 173 million dollars, according to Maoyan.
Which film topped China's National Day box office in 2026?
The crime drama Traces of Justice led with about 420 million yuan, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Pardon and Resident Evil, according to Maoyan.
Was this year's holiday box office higher or lower than last year?
Lower. Xinhua reported that the market dipped from last year's National Day holiday.
What share did Chinese films take?
Domestic films accounted for 78.7% of the holiday's box office revenue.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
