China's 2026 box office revenue, including pre-sales, has surpassed 15.1 billion yuan ($2.2 billion) as of May 24, according to CCTV News.
A poster of the film "For You" is seen at a movie theater in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China on May 16, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
Among the year's biggest breakout hits is the domestic drama Dear You, which has earned more than 1.83 billion yuan at the box office and climbed into the top five highest-grossing films of the year.
At the center of the story are "qiaopi" – handwritten letters and money remittances once sent home by overseas Chinese migrants to their families in southern China. Using these letters as an emotional thread, the film tells a multi-generational story about migration, separation, and family ties across time and distance.
The film lineup for International Children's Day. (Photo: CGTN)
Meanwhile, cinemas are preparing for another busy period ahead of International Children's Day on June 1, with several family-oriented animated films set for release.
Upcoming titles include Master Zhong, a fantasy adventure inspired by the Chinese folklore figure Zhong Kui; Voice of the Forest, which follows a young monkey trying to protect its homeland after a forest fire; and the sports-themed animation Doubles Match, about two teenage table tennis players who become rivals while chasing Olympic dreams.
Popular Chinese animation franchise Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf: Dunk for Future will also return to theaters during the holiday season, adding to the crowded family film lineup.