China’s box office kicked off the new year with momentum — and Zootopia 2 is once again leading the charge. Disney’s animated sequel bounced back to the top spot over the January 2–4 weekend, reminding everyone just how powerful family-friendly franchises remain in the market.
Zootopia 2 Back on Top
After briefly slipping, Zootopia 2 surged ahead with a weekend haul of RMB 121.5 million (around $17.1 million). That push lifted its total China earnings to a massive RMB 4.25 billion (approximately $598 million), cementing its status as one of the biggest animated hits the country has ever seen.
The film’s strong hold shows its continued appeal across age groups, even weeks into its run.
Avatar Holds Steady
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash slipped to second place but showed no real signs of slowing down. The sci-fi epic added another $15.8 million over the frame, taking its China total to $136.3 million since debuting on December 19. For a third chapter in a long-running franchise, the numbers remain solid — and the film is still very much in the game.
Local Titles Make Their Mark
Crime thriller The Fire Raven claimed third place, pulling in $11.7 million over the weekend. Directed by Sam Quah, the film’s total has now crossed $30 million, driven by interest in its dark, corruption-laced murder mystery.
Close behind, Back to the Past opened in fourth place with $11.1 million for the weekend and a strong $24.1 million cumulative start. The film adapts the popular 2001 TVB series A Step Into the Past and reunites its original cast 24 years later. The project also holds emotional weight as the final screen appearance of veteran actor Dick Liu Kai-chi.
SpongeBob Rounds Out the Top Five
Paramount’s The SpongeBob Movie landed in fifth place, debuting with $2.1 million and reaching an early total of $4 million. While modest compared to the heavyweights above it, the animated title is expected to play steadily with younger audiences.
A Promising Start for 2026
Altogether, the China box office generated $63.8 million over the weekend. The year-to-date total now stands at $111.4 million — running nearly 33% ahead of the same period last year, an encouraging sign for exhibitors and studios alike.
Final Words
With Hollywood sequels and strong local films sharing the spotlight, China’s box office is entering 2026 on confident footing. If early trends hold, the months ahead could shape up to be one of the market’s most competitive starts in years.
