China's box office kicked off 2026 with a revenue of over 500 million yuan (about 71.5 million U.S. dollars) as of 14:58 Friday, during the three-day New Year film season that will end on Saturday.

Among the domestic films screened during the holiday season, realistic themes and emotional resonance have become the core keywords.
"Escape From The Outland" tells a true-based story of overseas Chinese civilians struggling to survive and rescue themselves in a war. 

Documentary feature "The Hump" recreates the historical scenes of the Chinese Air Force and the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) transporting supplies and engaging in aerial combat against Japanese invaders during World War II. The film fills a long-standing gap in visual portrayals of this subject and has emerged as a distinctive entry in the holiday season.

Apart from realistic films, the holiday season has also seen growing popularity in family-friendly comedies. The film, "Enough Is Enough," blends Kung-Fu elements with comedic set pieces. "Unexpected Family" focuses on people with Alzheimer's disease and calls on audiences to cherish time spent with loved ones.                                                                                                       

        As for imported films, notable titles included "Anaconda," "Eternity," "Dangerous Animals," "Robot Dreams," "Mercy," "Wicked: For Good," and "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Square Pants", catering to diverse viewer preferences.