Wuxi’s National Day Weekend Box Office Momentum
Wuxi welcomed a strong start to the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival double holiday, riding a clear market momentum. In the first two days of the holiday, the local box office rose to about 6.66 million yuan, with total tickets exceeding 168,000. On October 1 alone, box office reached 3.6096 million yuan, and by 5 p.m. on October 2 the cumulative figure stood at 6.66 million, reflecting robust demand for cinema-going during the holiday window.
Jin Yi Cinema Shines as an Early Box-Office Dark Horse
At Jin Yi Cinema (Guangmei Hui Ju store) in Wuxi, the scene was bustling: queues stretched from ticket machines for dozens of meters, popcorns were rapidly packed, and soft drinks were refreshed to keep up with the crowd. The venue claimed the top spot on the provincial box office list for October 1 and climbed to No. 7 nationwide by mid-afternoon on October 2. This performance showcases how a regional cinema can emerge as a dark horse during peak holiday periods.
Expanded Screenings and a National Trend
Industry data indicate a nationwide trend of increased screening capacity during the National Day holiday. In Wuxi, major venues such as Da World Cinema at the Dayuan City Mall reported a 40% rise in screening slots compared with a typical weekend, running from early morning through late night. This expansion helped accommodate surging demand, with audiences including families and young moviegoers filling theatres, underscoring the holiday’s strong pull for cinema entertainment.
Top Titles and Local Power on the Big Screen
By 5 p.m. on October 2, the local box office leaders in Wuxi highlighted a mix of patriotic dramas, fantasy-action, and family entertainment. The top film was Volunteers Army: Bloodied Peace (志愿军：浴血和平), taking in about 2.24 million yuan. This historical drama, the finale of a Korean War trilogy, resonated with audiences seeking meaningful storytelling during the holiday. Close behind was Stabbing the Novelist 2 (刺杀小说家2), which earned roughly 1.34 million yuan, leveraging its strong visual effects in IMAX halls. Other popular titles included Wandering Life (浪浪人生) and 731, each surpassing 0.66 million yuan, reflecting a balanced appetite for both entertainment and history among viewers.
Several locally produced works continued to hold audience attention. East Island (东极岛), a film shot in the area and enjoying strong overseas reception, extended its run in Wuxi through October 9, signaling positive word-of-mouth and festival-level interest. The notable contribution of Wuxi’s homegrown productions reinforces the city’s growing influence in China’s regional film market.
Local Industry Strength and Oscar Frontrunners
Wuxi’s film industry showcased its depth with multiple titles produced or co-produced locally, such as Stabbing the Novelist 2 and 731. In a milestone for regional cinema, Nanjing Photo Studio (南京照相馆) was announced as the mainland China entry for the 98th Academy Awards Best International Feature Film category, underscoring the city’s role in shaping national cinema and its international reach.
What to Expect Next
Industry insiders remain optimistic about the National Day holiday’s remainder and the long tail it creates. The eight-day holiday window—spanning National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival—offers theatres a sustained audience flow beyond the opening surge. Local chains plan to continue increasing morning and late-night showings and to host events such as filmmaker Q&As and themed retrospectives to sustain momentum and deepen engagement with moviegoers in Wuxi.
