China Box Office: ‘Resident Evil’ Stays at No. 1 as Market Hits Fall Lull
“Resident Evil” stayed at No. 1 at the mainland China box office for a third consecutive weekend, earning $5.6 million from 23 to 25 October. Its continued lead came during a quiet post-holiday period, when total weekend takings fell to $18.6 million, highlighting a broader lull in cinema-going.
“Traces of Justice” placed second with $4.7 million, bringing its total to $92.4 million, while “Mr. & Mrs. Pardon” was third with $2.6 million and a cumulative $55.5 million. “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” and “All Wishes Come True!” rounded out the top five; their totals stand at $355.5 million and $306.6 million respectively. China’s box office for 2026 so far reached $4.7 billion, down 29.1% on the same period in 2025.
In short
- “Resident Evil” led China’s box office for a third weekend.
- Weekend takings fell to $18.6 million.
- 2026 box office is down 29.1% year on year.
Explained simply
China’s film market is made up of cinemas across the mainland, where locally made films and imported titles compete for ticket sales. Weekend rankings show which films sold the most tickets over a few days, while a film’s cumulative total includes its earnings over a longer run.
The box office is often busier around public holidays, when more people have time to go to the cinema. A quieter period afterwards can reduce takings across the market, even when one film remains ahead of the others.
Year-to-date figures compare ticket sales from the start of one year with the same dates in the previous year. They help show whether cinema-going is growing or shrinking overall, beyond the performance of individual films.
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