Chinese New Year Box Office Hits $805M, Led by Pegasus 3

Chinese New Year box office shatters records

China's Lunar New Year holiday box office is projected to generate a staggering $805 million from its top five films alone over a six-day period. This figure dwarfs Hollywood's all-time domestic weekly record of $536.4 million, set in 2019 when Avengers: Endgame led the market.

The holiday period, which began on Tuesday, is the most lucrative movie-going window in China. This year's haul underscores the market's immense scale and its independence from Hollywood's release calendar.

YOLO and Pegasus 2 lead the charge

The comedy YOLO and the racing sequel Pegasus 2 are dominating the holiday frame. Both films are performing far beyond initial industry projections, driving the historic overall numbers.

As of early estimates, the total box office for the holiday period is tracking significantly higher than last year. The strength of these two frontrunners has created a massive surge in revenue that has caught the attention of global distributors.

Historic performance details emerge

Preliminary data shows the market's top five films achieving the following estimated totals from Tuesday through Sunday:

• YOLO and Pegasus 2: Each generating well over $200 million.
• The animated feature Boonie Bears: Time Twist: Crossing the $100 million mark.
• Zhang Yimou's crime drama Article 20: Also exceeding $100 million.
• The animated film The Movie Emperor: Rounding out the top five with a strong performance.

The combined power of these titles has propelled the market to a level Hollywood has never reached in its domestic territory.

Hollywood's record pales in comparison

The Chinese New Year week's projected $805 million top-five total highlights a stark contrast with Hollywood's capabilities. The U.S. domestic market's record week, fueled by the climax of the Avengers saga, now seems modest by comparison.

This isn't just a seasonal spike. It represents the sustained buying power and cultural importance of movie-going in China during major national holidays. Hollywood studios have no equivalent release window that commands such universal audience participation.

A self-sufficient cinematic ecosystem

The success of the Lunar New Year slate, composed entirely of local productions, demonstrates China's box office self-sufficiency. Audiences are flocking to homegrown stories and stars, with no Hollywood imports in sight.

This trend has been building for years, but the sheer magnitude of this year's holiday performance solidifies it. The Chinese film industry can generate record-shattering revenue completely on its own terms, independent of Western content.

The Year of the Dragon has started with a roar at the box office, and the echoes will be felt in boardrooms from Los Angeles to London.