China''s May Day Box Office Grows, but Ticket Prices Hit 4-Year Low

The five-day May Day holiday in China is drawing to a close. As of the afternoon of May 5, the total movie box office for the holiday period (including pre-sales) exceeded 700 million RMB (approximately 3.24 billion TWD), surpassing the total for last year''s entire May Day period. However, the average ticket price on the first day of the holiday dropped to 36.8 RMB, a new low for the same period in four years. Reports indicate that by 1:06 PM today, total viewership reached 19.2 million, also exceeding the 2025 total. In comparison, first-day average ticket prices in previous years were 40.1 RMB (2023), 40.5 RMB (2024), and 39.5 RMB (2025). The decrease this year is significant. To stimulate consumption, various regions across China, including Beijing and Zhejiang, have introduced movie ticket subsidies. For instance, Beijing offered 10 RMB discounts or special 19.9 RMB screenings, which effectively lowered the average price. Industry insiders note that falling prices reflect growing pressure on the Chinese film market. Despite a record 13 films released this period, first-day performance didn''t meet expectations, suggesting subsidies failed to generate significant growth. Screenwriter Chen Yuchun analyzed that short videos and micro-dramas have fundamentally changed consumer entertainment habits, posing a severe challenge to traditional cinema.