A new milestone for China鈥檚 film industry was set recently through the record box office performance of the 2025 Spring Festival holiday from January 28 to February 4.

Box office revenue during the holiday hit 9.51 billion yuan (US$1.33 billion), with 187 million people thronging cinema houses.

The robust performances of the top-grossing movies, especially animated feature 鈥淣e Zha 2,鈥� suspense comedy 鈥淒etective Chinatown 1900,鈥� and fantasy epic 鈥淐reation of the Gods II: Demon Force,鈥� have also boosted movie fans鈥� confidence in China鈥檚 film market in 2025.

Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corp, noted that the Chinese New Year unleashed one of the most impressive surges in moviegoing seen in recent years, anywhere in the world.

鈥淭his is a shot of adrenaline for moviegoing in China that comes at just the right time, with a tentpole heavy slate of local language and Hollywood films ahead for 2025.鈥�

鈥淣e Zha 2,鈥� the highest-grossing film of all time in China, began showing at IMAX theaters in Australia and New Zealand from February 6. In North America, it was released on February 14.

The Chinese New Year slate will continue to play in China for the next month, alongside Disney鈥檚 鈥淐aptain America: Brave New World鈥� and the re-release of Wong Kar-wai鈥檚 classic romance 鈥淚n Mood for Love.鈥�

The following are some of the most highly anticipated movies to hit the theaters in 2025:

鈥淛urassic World: Rebirth鈥�

Following the success of 2022鈥檚 鈥淛urassic World Dominion,鈥� the fourth installment in the successful dinosaur-themed sci-fi adventure franchise stars a new ensemble cast led by Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film is set five years after the events of the previous installment. To save human lives, an expedition embarks on an adventure in remote tropical regions and tries to extract DNA from the three largest prehistoric animals on land, sea and air for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough.

鈥淭he Fantastic Four: First Steps鈥�

The action-packed sci-fi adventure film is based on the stories of the Marvel Comics superhero team the Fantastic Four. It is also the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In this sequel, the team must protect their 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world from the planet-devouring cosmic called Galactus with their incredible stunts. Meanwhile, they have to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond.

鈥淢ission: Impossible 鈥� The Final Reckoning鈥�

Starring Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell, the action spy thriller is the 8th installment in the 鈥淢ission: Impossible鈥� film franchise. Budgeted at around US$400 million, it is also one of the most expensive films ever made.

The film was originally slated to be the Part Two to the 鈥淒ead Reckoning鈥� installment of the series, which was critically acclaimed for its stunning visuals. Cruise will reprise his role as IMF agent Ethan Hunt and does a lot of stunts in the movie himself, such as diving, flying and falling out of a biplane. The movie also explores and discusses the threat posed by artificial intelligence.

鈥淪he鈥檚 Got No Name鈥�

Helmed by Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Chan, the suspense crime thriller is based on a famous unsolved murder case that took place in a bustling alleyway in 1940s Shanghai. Zhang Ziyi plays the lead role 鈥� a woman accused of murdering and dismembering her husband.

When the film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Zhang was praised by critics for her delicate depiction of a real-life murderer. The film is not simply a story about a murder case, as it also explores multiple relationships, legal issues of the time and the complexity of humanity.

鈥淎vatar: Fire and Ash鈥�

The epic sci-fi saga by James Cameron is the sequel to the 2022 production 鈥淎vatar: The Way of Water鈥� and the third installment in the 鈥淎vatar鈥� film series. The film will continue to showcase the intricate ecosystem on the alien world of the planet Pandora.

Though story details of the film haven鈥檛 been revealed, it will probably have an unexpected twist in plot and introduce many new characters from other clans. The film will offer insights into their way of life, cultures and emotions. Additionally, the complex relationship between humans and nature will be deeply explored.

鈥淪uperman鈥�

Based on the famous character from DC Comics, the film written and directed by James Gunn depicts Superman鈥檚 journey to reconcile his alien heritage with his human upbringing.

As the first film in the DC Universe and a reboot of the Superman film series, it is expected to bring a fresh take on the iconic superhero, who is the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way in a world that views this as old-fashioned.

鈥淏lades of the Guardians鈥�

Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, the influential martial arts choreographer behind movies like 鈥淭he Matrix鈥� and 鈥淐rouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,鈥� the A-list film is headed by a cast that includes action stars Wu Jing, Jet Li and Nicholas Tse.

Adapted from a popular martial arts comic series, the film tells the story of the guardians who get caught up in the conspiracy when escorting a mysterious person through the desert. The action stars will showcase stunts of various weapons to re-define a new style of martial arts genre.

鈥淭he Mermaid 2鈥�

The long-awaited sequel to the 2016 hit 鈥淭he Mermaid鈥� is also expected to be released this year. Directed by Stephen Chow and starring Lin Yun, it will start new fantastical adventures to space.

When 鈥淭he Mermaid鈥� was released during the 2016 Spring Festival holiday, it broke many box office records, earning over 3.3 billion yuan. It also aroused social concerns about the protection of the marine ecosystem.

鈥淒ongji Island鈥�

Directed by Guan Hu, the film tells the heroic stories of Chinese fishermen who risked their lives to save more than 300 British prisoners of war on a Japanese cargo ship 鈥� the Lisbon Maru after it was sunk by a torpedo in 1942.

The true historical event was also told in an acclaimed documentary by Fang Li. During the filming, lead actors Zhu Yilong and Wu Lei received strict training to portray their roles as fishermen. They not only cut their body fat percentage to an astonishing level, but also delved into the lifestyle habits and survival skills of fishermen at sea.

鈥淶ootopia 2: Rise of the Non-Mammalians鈥�

The hilarious Disney animated feature film is a long-awaited sequel to the 2016 box office sensation, which portrays the friendship between a rabbit and a fox.

In the film, the buddy cops 鈥� Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde 鈥� will start their new investigation in Marsh Market. They must go undercover to crack the case when they find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile.