The film market got off to a great start in 2026, with a wide variety of genres and themes attracting a large number of viewers to the theaters.
Multiple efforts
"Movie+" activates new consumption momentum
Since the beginning of the year, the animated film *Zootopia 2* has continued to lead the box office; among domestic films, "realistic themes" and "emotional resonance" have become the core keywords: the suspenseful film *The Assassination* is gripping, while the realistic film *The Land of Martial Arts* conveys the concept of peace and reverence for life. *A Step into the Past* evokes viewers' youthful memories with its sentimentality; the heartwarming comedy *Playing House* focuses on the bond between an elderly person with Alzheimer's disease and a temporary family.
Both "A Place to Use One's Skills" and the previously popular "Nanjing Photo Studio" were directed by Shen Ao. The two works share a common thread: they drive the narrative through the intertwined fates of several ordinary people. In both films, director Shen Ao uses the "camera" as a shared narrative vehicle to convey reflections on the theme of "war and peace."
Since last year, my country's film industry has shifted from a traditional box office economy to a diversified consumption model. New consumption models such as "film + catering", "film + performance", "film + exhibition", and "film + sports" have deeply integrated film with urban consumption, and the sales of film derivatives have become a new engine for driving film culture to break out of its niche.
Technology + Film Extend Imagination
Enhance the movie viewing experience
Since the beginning of the year, "technological viewing modes" such as digital LED cinemas and virtual reality movies have provided audiences with a more immersive viewing experience with stunning visual effects.
Since New Year's Day, many XR extended reality cinemas in Beijing, Xi'an, and Guiyang have welcomed a large number of viewers. Wearing smart head-mounted displays, the viewing mode has jumped from "static viewing" to "dynamic immersive interaction," as if they have truly stepped into the movie plot.
In March of last year, the National Film Administration issued the "Notice on Promoting the Orderly Development of Virtual Reality Films," becoming the first in the world to include virtual reality films in its management and support scope. Nearly 140 virtual reality films have been submitted for registration, and 28 film licenses have been issued. The deep integration of virtual reality technology and film art has become an important trend in the innovative development of the global audiovisual content industry.
