Particle.news
Download on the App Store

China’s Lunar New Year Box Office Drops 39% as ‘Pegasus 3’ Commands Half the Take

Lower ticket prices paired with a tilt toward lower‑tier city audiences signal softer demand.

Overview

  • Maoyan reports RMB5.75 billion ($835 million) for Feb. 15–23, down 39.5% year over year, with 120 million admissions falling 35.8%.
  • Pegasus 3’ earned RMB2.927 billion (about $425 million) during the holiday, far ahead of ‘Scare Out,’ ‘Blades of the Guardians’ and ‘Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector.’
  • Imax logged $28 million from China for the period, including $24 million from ‘Pegasus 3,’ reflecting the title’s outsize premium-format draw.
  • Third- and fourth-tier cities contributed 59% of takings as average ticket prices slid to recent lows and the audience skewed older male.
  • Some projections put ‘Pegasus 3’ finishing near $600–622 million worldwide, yet the weaker slate leaves theater operators under pressure.