(Yicai) Feb. 24 -- Cinema ticket sales in China, including presales, have exceeded USD1 billion this year after a strong performance over the Chinese New Year holiday, with the country overtaking the North American market to rank first worldwide.

China's box office takings topped CNY8 billion (USD1.2 billion) yesterday, according to data from Maoyan Professional Edition. The figure exceeded CNY5.5 billion during the nine-day Lunar New Year break that began on Feb. 15, led by car racing comedy Pegasus 3, spy thriller Scare Out, and martial arts flick Blades of the Guardians.

In addition, Chinese cinemas reported more than 100 million admissions over the holiday, reaching the level for the eighth straight year.

Diverse content was a hallmark of this year's movie lineup, with comedy, action, animation, and science fiction flicks competing simultaneously to serve China's diverse audience. Pegasus 3 delivered fresh racing sequences and a broader narrative scope compared to the first two installments of Han Han's franchise, Director Zhang Yimou set an espionage thriller in a contemporary urban context in Scare Out under the guidance of the Ministry of State Security, while Blades of the Guardians brought martial arts to Gobi's desert landscapes.

In addition, the "Film+" consumption model is gaining traction in China, with the National Film Administration and the Ministry of Commerce designating the first batch of 16 pilot cities for the integrated consumption initiative. Local programs, including cross-redemption schemes linking cinema tickets with retail receipts and "Travel China with Movies" campaigns, have deepened ties between going to the cinema and dining, tourism, and others.

Some Chinese cities have also introduced subsidies combining government support, platform discounts, and cinema concessions to further unlock holiday cultural spending.

Editor: Martin Kadiev