This is a list of the highest-grossing films inmainland China. Most of the data below is provided by EntGroup's China Box Office (CBO) website, with the gross inChinese yuan.[1]
Up until the 1980s, the Chinese box office was typically reported in terms ofbox office admissions (ticket sales), rather thangross revenue. The film with the highest ticket sales in China isLegend of the White Snake (1980) with an estimated700 million admissions,[3][4] followed byIn-Laws (Full House of Joy) [zh] with650 million ticket sales.[5][6] The foreign film with the highest ticket sales in China was the 1976Japanese filmKimi yo Fundo no Kawa o Watare (Manhunt), which had its Chinese release in 1978 and sold more than330 million tickets in China,[10] followed by theIndian filmCaravan (1971) which had its Chinese release in 1979 and sold about300 million tickets in China.[14]Hollywood film releases were relatively rare in China up untilFirst Blood (1982), which had its Chinese release in 1985,[29] and went on to sell76 million tickets, the highest for a Hollywood film in China up until 2018.
Zhou Enlai [zh] was released in 1992 and became China's highest-grossing film with CN¥270 million.[7] China began releasing box office gross revenue results for foreign non-Chinese films in November 1994, upon the release ofThe Fugitive (1993).[30][31] In 1995, theHong Kong action filmRumble in the Bronx, directed byStanley Tong and starringJackie Chan, became the all-time highest-grossing foreign film in China,[30] where it grossed CN¥110 million;[32] it is not considered a domestic film as it was produced inHong Kong (then aBritish Dependent Territory). It was above the year's highest domestic Chinese film,Jiang Wen'sIn the Heat of the Sun with ¥50 million.[30] Stanley Tong and Jackie Chan surpassed their own record with the Hong Kong action filmPolice Story 4: First Strike (1996), which grossed CN¥112 million in China.[33] In 1998,Titanic (directed byJames Cameron) became the all-time highest-grossing film to be released in China, with a then-unprecedented ¥360 million. In 2002,Hero became the second highest-grossing domestic film, with CN¥250 million. China's first domestic film to breach ¥360 million was released in 2009,The Founding of a Republic.[30] In 2015,Monster Hunt became the first domestic film in 17 years to become the overall highest-grossing film in China, earning ¥2.44 billion.[30]
Since the 1990s, the most represented filmmaker in the chart has been American film directorMichael Bay with four films to his credit, occupying the top spot in 2001, 2007, 2011, and 2014. Among domestic filmmakers,Feng Xiaogang (1999, 2003, 2008),Zhang Yimou (2002, 2006, 2023),Stephen Chow (2004, 2013, 2016),Chen Kaige (2005, 2021, 2022) andDante Lam (2018, 2021, 2022) are the most represented with three films each.
Films that are currently in cinema (as ofFebruary 2025)
A list of the highest-grossing openings for films in China. Since many films do not open on Fridays in China, the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday following the movie's release.
These are the films that, when first released, set the opening record in China. Since many films do not open on Fridays in China, the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday following the movie's release.
^38,412,018 tickets before 2021.[51] 10,767,018 tickets with 2021 re-release.[52]
^According to EntGroup,Monster Hunt 2 grossed CN¥1,204,450,000 between the first Friday and Sunday of its release in China in February 2018.[99] According to the 2018 exchange rate during the weekend of release,[100] this is equivalent to $189,784,760.
^According to EntGroup,Detective Chinatown 2 grossedCN¥990,480,000 between the first Friday and Sunday of its release in China in February 2018.[99] According to the 2018 exchange rate during the weekend of release,[103] this is equivalent to $156,069,583.
^abcdefghijklmno内地总票房排名 [All-Time Domestic Box Office Rankings].中国票房 (China Box Office) (in Chinese). 艺恩 ENDATA Inc.Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved2 March 2020.
^abcde"Fujian xi ju: Fujianxiju".福建省戯劇年鑑 [Fujian Drama Yearbook] (in Chinese) (1–6).Fujian: 中国戏剧家协会福建分会 (Fujian Branch of China Dramatists Association): 11. 1985.近年拍摄的戏曲片《白蛇传》观众人数最多,达七亿人次、《七品芝麻官》五亿人次。 [In recent years, the opera film "Legend of the White Snake" has the largest audience, reaching700 million people, and "Sesame Official" with500 million people.]
^abcdef回望中国电影20年 从5亿人看《少林寺》到票房1日破亿 [Looking back at Chinese movies over 20 years, from500 million people watching "Shaolin Temple" to the box office breaking100 million in one day].China Daily (in Chinese). 2014-12-29. Retrieved2022-04-01.
^abcdefghijklmno中国电影年鉴 [China Film Yearbook] (in Chinese).中国电影出版社 (China Film Press). 1985. p. 161.近四年来城乡观众人次超过 1 亿的影片有:《喜盈门》 6 亿 5 千万,《武当》 6 亿 1 千万,《少林弟子》 5 亿 2 千万,《武林志》 5 亿,《从奴隶到将军》 4 亿 7 千万,《西安事变》 4 亿 5 千万,《吉鸿昌》 3 亿 8 千万,《开枪,为他送行》 3 亿 3 千万,《杜十娘》 2 亿 6 千万,《佩剑将军》 2 亿 6 千万,《火烧圆明园》 2 亿 4 千万 [In the past four years, films with more than 100 million viewers in urban and rural areas include: "Xi ying men" 650 million, "Wudang" 610 million, "Shao lin di zi" 520 million, "Wu lin zhi" 500 million, "Cong Nu Li Dao Jiang Jun" 470 million, "Xi'an Incident" 450 million, "Ji Hong Chang" 380 million, "Kai Qiang, Wei Ta Song Xing" 330 million, "Du Shiniang" 260 million, "A General Wearing the Sword" 260 million, "Burning of the Imperial Palace" 240 million]
^abc"《追捕》：一代人的记忆 当年到底有多火?" ["Manhunt": How hot was the memory of a generation back then?].Sohu (in Chinese). 2018-01-05. Retrieved27 March 2022.
^abcd吴宇森对话高晓松 "最后一部电影会拍给徐克" [Woo Yusen talks to Gao Xiaosong: "The last movie will be made for Tsui Hark"].China Daily (in Chinese). 2017-11-17. Retrieved29 March 2022.
^ab"Ne Zha 2".Endata (in Chinese). EntGroup. Retrieved25 February 2025.
^abc刘春 (Liú Chūn) (September 2017).光影中国的情感结构：中国大陆电影：1978年以来 [The Emotional Structure of Light and Shadow China: Mainland Chinese Cinema: Since 1978] (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. p. 39.ISBN978-7-5520-2112-7.
^abcdefgh中国电影年鉴 [China Film Yearbook] (in Chinese).中国电影出版社 (China Film Press). 1985. p. 46.两年来,包括三种拷贝( 8.75 毫米、 16 毫米和 35 毫米)在内,观众人次最多的十几部影片是:《武当》,从 1983 年 7 月发行到 1984 年 6 月,有五亿四千四百多万观众;《武林志》,从 1983 年 8 月到 1984 年 6 月,四亿二千五百七十九万观众;第三位是"上影"的喜剧片《飞来的女婿》。 这是出乎我意料之外的,无论评论界还是领导同志,几乎没有人认为这是一部好的或者比较好的影片(当然内容上是没有问题的) ,我好象还没有看到过有什么评论提到这部影片,但是 1983 年 1 月到 1984 年 6 月,观众人次一亿九千九百五十万;另外几部影片的观众人次:《蓝盾保险箱》, 一亿七千万;《特殊身份的警官》,一亿三千万;《人到中年》,一亿二千万;《蛇案》, 1983 年 12 月到今年 6 月,一亿二千万;《东方剑》,一亿人次;《咱们的牛百岁》,一亿一千万;《小小得月楼》,八千八百万;还有两部与香港合拍的影片,《少林弟子》,四亿九千万;《自古英雄出少年》,从 1984 年 1 月到 6 月,二亿六千万。我算了一下,除两部合拍影片外,这 10 部影片中上座的情况大概是这样的:两部武打片,占九亿六千九百八十三万;四部惊险片,或叫地下斗争或侦破片,六亿三千万;另外喜剧片,三亿九千万;还有《人到中年》,一亿二千万,加上两部合拍片, 12 部影片观众人次约三十亿。 [In the past two years, including three copies (8.75mm, 16mm and 35mm), the dozen films with the most audiences were: "Wudang", which was released from July 1983 to June 1984, with more than544 million viewers; "Wu lin zhi", from August 1983 to June 1984,425.79 million viewers; the third is the Shanghai Film Studio comedy "Fei lai de nü xu". This is beyond my expectations, no matter critics or leading comrades, almost no one thinks this is a good or relatively good film (of course there is no problem with the content), I don't seem to have seen it. What reviews mention this film, but from January 1983 to June 1984, the audience was199.5 million; the audience for the other films: "Blue Shield Safe",170 million; "A Policeman with a Special Identity",130 million; "At Middle Age",120 million; "She an", December 1983 to June this year,120 million; "Dong Fangjian",100 million people; "Our Niu Baisui",110 million; "Little Deyuelou",88 million; and two films co-produced with Hong Kong, "Shao lin di zi",490 million; "Young Heroes", from January to June 1984,260 million. I calculated, except for the two co-production films, the status of the top 10 films is probably like this: two martial arts films, accounting for969.83 million; four thrilling films, or underground struggles or detective films,630 million; comedy films,390 million; and "At Middle Age",120 million, plus two co-productions, 12 films with an audience of about3 billion.]
^abcde电影艺朮 [Cinematic Arts].电影艺朮 (Cinematic Arts) (in Chinese) (264–269).中国电影出版社 (China Film Press): 18. 1999.中彩公司还对放映 529 部 35 毫米放映两年的观众人次做了统计,前 10 名国产片是《少年犯》( 1.61 亿人次)《大上海》( 1.21 亿人次)《海市蜃楼》( 1.13 亿人次)《侠女十三妹》( 8108 万人次)《红高粱》( 7684 万人次《绝处逢生》( 7348 万人次)《黑匣喋血记》( 7345 万人次《神鞭》( 6981 万人次)《绿王》( 6926 万人次)等。前 10 名进口片观众人次列为前十名的有《南北少林》(香港)《少林俗家弟子》(香港)《野鹅敢死队》(英)《鹰爪骨丹心》(香港)《警官的诺言》(法)《伦敦上空的唐》(英)《超人》(美) [The lottery company also made statistics on the number of viewers who screened 529 35mm films for two years. The top 10 domestic films were "Juvenile Delinquents" (161 million admissions), "Great Shanghai" (121 million admissions), "Mirage" (113 million admissions), "The Thirteenth Sister" (81.08 million admissions), "Red Sorghum" (76.84 million admissions), "Life in a Dead End" (73.48 million admissions), "Black Box" (73.45 million admissions), "The Whip of God" (69.81 million admissions), "The Green King" (69.26 million admissions), etc. The top 10 imported movie audiences included "Martial Arts of Shaolin" (Hong Kong), "Shaolin Secular Disciple" (Hong Kong), "Wild Goose Death Squad" (English), "Eagle Claw" (Hong Kong), "Police Officer's Promise" (France), "Don Over London" (UK), "Superman" (US)]
^ab战狼2 [Wolf Warrior 2].Endata (in Chinese). EntGroup. Retrieved24 March 2022.
^Momphard, David (30 September 2007)."Two of a kind".South China Morning Post.Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved12 April 2020.It has been screened in the local cinema every day since 1980 and, to date, has sold more than140 million tickets.
^ab哪吒之魔童降世 [Nézhā zhī Mótóng Jiàngshì].Endata (in Chinese). EntGroup. Retrieved24 March 2022.
^ab长津湖 [The Battle at Lake Changjin].Endata (in Chinese). EntGroup. Retrieved2022-04-01.
^你好，李焕英 [Hi, Mom].Endata (in Chinese). EntGroup. Retrieved2022-04-01.
^咱们的牛百岁.Douban (in Chinese).Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved13 June 2020.
^流浪地球 [The Wandering Earth].Endata (in Chinese). EntGroup. Retrieved2022-04-01.
^ab日本电影在中国的传播及中日电影的互动 [The Dissemination of Japanese Films in China and the Interaction Between Chinese and Japanese Films](PDF).Science Council of Asia (SCA) (in Chinese).Science Council of Japan (SCJ). May 2008. Retrieved13 April 2022.日本电影真正大规模进入中国还是在 1979 年中日友好条约签订以后。1979 年，政府间 文化交流活动之一——日本电影周引起轰动。《追捕》、《望乡》、《狐狸的故事》等日本电影 在中国上映，创造了数亿人次的票房。 [The real large-scale entry of Japanese films into China was after the signing of the Sino-Japanese Friendship Treaty in 1979. In 1979, one of the intergovernmental cultural exchange events, Japan Film Week, caused a sensation. Japanese films such as "Manhunt", "Wàng Xiāng" and "Fox Story" were released in China, generating hundreds of millions of admissions at the box office.]
^ab"Beijing Review".Beijing Review. Vol. 52. 2009. p. 23. Retrieved29 April 2022.But in 1995, Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan'sRumble in the Bronx lit up movie screens during the Spring Festival, taking in110 million yuan ($16.11 million).
^35年过去了，82版《少林寺》6大主演现状令人吃惊 [35 years later, the current situation of the 6 leading actors in the 82 edition of "Shaolin Temple" is surprising].Sina News (in Chinese).Sina Corporation. 7 July 2017. Retrieved1 April 2022.
^中国电影年鉴 [China Film Yearbook] (in Chinese).中国电影出版社 (China Film Press). 1998. p. 32.《鸦片战争》在全国放映 4 万 8 千多场,观众 1200 万人次,国内票房收入达 7200 多万元,超过了 1997 年所有进口分账影片 ["The Opium War" was screened in more than 48,000 shows nationwide, with an audience of12 million and a domestic box office revenue of more than¥72 million, surpassing all imported films in 1997.]
^"Titanic".Inside Kino (in German). Retrieved26 March 2022.
^阿凡达 (2012) – Avatar.Endata (in Chinese). EntGroup.Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved13 June 2020.
^阿凡达今日或将破10亿 [Avatar may break 1 billion today].finance.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Retrieved5 March 2020.
^《速度与激情7》内地总票房超过20亿 [Speed and Furious 7 grosses over 2 billion in Mainland China].chinanews.com (in Chinese).Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved5 March 2020.
^捉妖记 [Monster Hunt].Endata (in Chinese). EntGroup. Retrieved2022-04-02.
^再创纪录！《美人鱼》上映19天大破30亿 [Another record!The Mermaid broke through 3 billion in 19 days].ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese).Archived from the original on 2016-02-27. Retrieved5 March 2020.
