Octopus With Broken Arms retains first place

The Chinese box office saw “Octopus with broken arms” continues its dominance, grossing RMB76.6 million ($10.6 million) and a cumulative total of RMB686 million ($95.3 million), according to Artisan Gateway data.

The crime thriller As One Production, directed by Jacky Gan, has maintained its momentum since its release on December 28, cementing its position as the first big hit of the year.

Gengxi Pictures’Big world” remained in second place, earning $6.4 million this weekend, bringing its cumulative total to $91.5 million. Directed by Yang Lina, the drama about a young man with cerebral palsy and his relationship with his grandmother continues to resonate with audiences into its third week.

In third place, Maoyan Pictures’ ‘Honey Money Phony’ added $5.9 million to box office revenue, reaching a cumulative total of $40.4 million. Directed by Su Biao, the comedy about a woman ensnared in financial deception has remained a staple since its December 31 release.

The new release “Fake Dad,” distributed by iQIYI Pictures, debuted in fourth place with $2.5 million. Directed by Jia Bing, who also stars as Yang Haoliang, the film follows a former singer who discovers someone is impersonating him. He enlists his son Yang Shiyue (Yin Zheng) to uncover the truth, leading to an unexpected collaboration with the impersonator.

Rounding out the top five is Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘ opened with $1.8 million. The only other Hollywood entry in the top 10 is Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which occupies the 10th spot and has a cumulative total of $15.4 million, according to Ent Group.

The total weekend box office grossed $34.5 million, down from the $44.3 million recorded last weekend. Cumulative, ChinaThe 2025 box office has reached $157.4 million, down 11.4% from the same period in 2024. The slower performance reflects ongoing challenges for the theatrical market, although strong holdovers like “Octopus with Broken Arms” have provided some stability taken care of.

Chinese box office facing a tough year in 2024. The market saw a steep 22% year-over-year decline to $5.8 billion, the lowest annual total since 2014 and a whopping 27% lower than the pre-pandemic average. December was particularly quiet in China, with revenues reaching $321 million, the eighth best month of the year and 46% lower than pre-pandemic levels. All eyes will now be on the New Year’s holiday starting in late January, a period when big local releases traditionally take place and the box office gets a boost.