What happened
Online platform data shows that as of 13:00 on August 30, 2026, the total box office for the 2026 summer movie season, including presales, had surpassed 12.34 billion yuan.
That figure has already exceeded the entire final box office of the 2025 summer season, according to the data.
This result marks two consecutive years of growth for China's summer box office.
Why it matters
Reaching last year's full-season total before the current season has ended points to sustained strong demand for theatrical releases during the summer period.
Back-to-back annual growth in this key moviegoing window suggests the industry's recovery momentum remains intact, though the reasons behind the increase are not detailed in the report.
Key facts
The 2026 summer box office, including presales, broke through 12.34 billion yuan as of 13:00 on August 30, 2026.
This total exceeds the final box office of the 2025 summer season.
The summer box office has now grown for two consecutive years.
What to watch next
As the summer season continues, industry observers are likely to track how much further the box office can climb before the season officially closes.
Attention may also turn to whether the growth trend can carry into the autumn moviegoing period.