Lighthouse Professional data show China’s 2026 summer box office (June 1–Aug 31)
reached CNY 11.857 bln as of Aug 26. Industry forecasts expect the window to
exceed CNY 12.0 bln, above CNY 11.966 bln in summer 2025. Shanghai researcher
Yang Huaiyu said several well-reviewed late‑summer releases across realism,
animation and sports have lifted content quality and sustained demand.
Policy-driven cinema diversification, local consumption vouchers and modest
ticket-price declines have supported attendance. Analysts say the season has a
“front-low, back-high” pattern, with growth accelerating after mid‑July and
word‑of‑mouth driving the late surge.
