Last week (July 28 to August 3, 2025), the national box office revenue reached 1.75 billion yuan, showing significant growth compared to the previous week’s 1.188 billion yuan. The summer movie season continues to heat up with a noticeable upward trend in ticket sales.
2025 Week 30 Box Office Rankings
(07/28-08/03)
The war-themed film “Nanjing Photo Studio,” directed by Shen Ao, dominated the box office with a weekly revenue of 1.1 billion yuan, securing the top spot. According to industry data, as of 9:57 PM on August 3, the total summer box office (including pre-sales) surpassed 7 billion yuan. “Nanjing Photo Studio,” “Lychees of Chang’an,” and “Jurassic World: Rebirth” ranked as the top three films of the season. As of today, the leading film, “Nanjing Photo Studio,” has exceeded 1.6 billion yuan in total box office.
In the weekly rankings, “The Stage,” starring Chen Peisi, and “Lychees of Chang’an,” directed by Da Peng, took second and third place with box office earnings of 152 million and 130 million yuan, respectively. Two domestic animated films, “Legend of Hei 2” and “Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain,” also received widespread acclaim. Additionally, “Strange Tales: Temple of Lanruo,” “Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf: Dawn in a Foreign Land,” and the newly released “Tom and Jerry: Zodiac Adventure” showcased the strength of animated films in both quality and quantity, offering diverse options for family audiences.
Domestic films continue to dominate the market with high-quality production and diverse themes, driving the summer box office to new heights. In the coming week, 12 new films, including “Dongji Island,” are set to be released, ensuring the market remains vibrant.
12 New Films, Including “Dongji Island,” to Release This Week
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. A series of films, dramas, music, dance, and art works commemorating this historical event are being released. This Friday (August 8), the film “Dongji Island,” depicting the heroic actions of Chinese fishermen, will premiere nationwide.
The film marks director Guan Hu’s return to war themes and his first use of IMAX-specific filming techniques. It is his longest-prepared project to date, featuring the highest proportion of underwater scenes in his career. Based on the real-life Lisbon Maru incident, the film tells the story of Dongji Island fishermen who bravely rescued British prisoners of war after Japanese forces sealed the sinking cargo ship’s hatches in 1942. The production set a record for underwater filming duration in Chinese cinema, with over 200 days of shooting in Asia’s largest 9,000-square-meter “super water tank.” The lead actors underwent three months of breath-holding training to complete a 4.5-minute deep-dive scene.
The crew meticulously recreated the sinking cargo ship and 20 fishing boats at a 1:1 scale, using IMAX cameras for deep-sea filming. A 23-minute underwater single-take sequence captures the harrowing moments of the ship’s capsizing and the prisoners’ struggle for survival. Historical records show that 384 British soldiers survived thanks to the fishermen’s rescue. The film has announced a global release plan, with screenings scheduled for August in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the UK, the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and Macau. Additional regions, including Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Cambodia, have also confirmed screenings.
Also releasing this Friday is the comedy “The Encounter,” written and directed by Ma Duo, starring Jia Bing and Wang Hao. The story follows a 43-year-old man who swaps souls with his 18-year-old self, leading to a series of humorous and heartfelt adventures. The film blends millennial nostalgia with a unique “double time-travel” premise, offering both laughter and emotional depth.
The inspirational film “No More Retreat,” directed by
