There are plenty of reasons why the Chinese New Year is the most anticipated holiday on the calendar. There’s the weeklong break, red envelopes stuffed with cash, and, of course, the long-awaited reunion with family. But somewhere between all the delicious food and relatives questioning your love life, there’s another tradition that can’t be missed: the Spring Festival movie rush.
It’s the most lucrative window of the year for studios and often a record-shattering moment for the box office. Last year’s Spring Festival season was dominated by Nezha 2. Less than a month after its premiere, the sequel surged past $2 billion USD, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time. By the end of the holiday run, the total Spring Festival box office revenue hit a staggering 9.51 billion RMB (1.4 billion USD), setting a record high for the industry.
However, this year’s numbers dipped to 5.75 billion RMB (835 million USD), a noticeable cooldown. But that doesn’t mean the lineup lacks power. From espionage thrillers to wuxia epics, and kid-friendly panda adventures, this year’s Spring Festival slate covers just about every genre imaginable.
Here are the top six films that defined this holiday season.
Pegasus 3 (飞驰人生3)
If you’re seeing Pegasus 3, do yourself a favor and go IMAX, or at least the biggest screen you can find. The franchise definitely demands it.
The third installment in the racing saga once again follows the scrappy underdog team that has clawed its way from a makeshift garage crew to a respected force on the track. In this new chapter, our team makes it global with a high-stakes international competition. And don’t worry if you missed the first two; they all work perfectly as a standalone film.
Motorsports remains a relatively rare genre in Chinese cinema, which is part of what makes the Pegasus series so special. This year, it took first place at the holiday box office, pulling in nearly 3 billion RMB ($437 million USD) on its own, more than half the season’s total!
Scare Out (惊蛰无声)
Scare Out is the latest spy thriller from celebrated filmmaker Zhang Yimou, the name behind classics like Red Sorghum and House of Flying Daggers.
Starring fan favorites Jackson Yee and Zhu Yilong, the film revolves around leaked state intelligence and a task force scrambling to root out a traitor hidden within their ranks. With unexpected twists and turns and a tight plot, be ready for a story that echoes the same energy of Hong Kong’s golden-era crime dramas.
Blades of the Guardians (镖人：风起大漠)
It’s the only wuxia offering of this season, and Blades of the Guardians also has the highest Douban score among the holiday releases, currently sitting at 7.5.
Adapted from the manhua of the same name by Xu Xianzhe, the film stars Nicholas Tse and Wu Jing, with special appearances from Jet Li and Tony Leung. It’s directed by Yuen Woo-ping, widely regarded as one of the greatest martial arts and action choreographers in cinema. With a lineup like this, it’s hard to go wrong.
The story follows Dao Ma, a hardened escort tasked with transporting a notorious fugitive across the desert, while facing ambushes and betrayals along the way. It’s classic wuxia storytelling, gritty and packed with action from beginning to the end, and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Per Aspera Ad Astra (星河入梦)
We all know that good sci-fi is still a rare find in Chinese cinema, but Per Aspera Ad Astra is a welcome exception.
Set in a distant future where advanced technology allows people to enter curated dream worlds to live out their fantasies, the film follows our protagonists as they travel between reality and the digital dreams, slipping into different identities in each dreamscape, uncovering conspiracies, and ultimately saving both worlds.
Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe (熊猫计划之部落奇遇记)
In this comedy sequel, Jackie Chan plays, well… himself!
The superstar and a panda named Hu Hu stumble into a remote nomadic tribe that believes the fluffy creature with dark circles to be a mythical being sent from the heavens. Together, the pair and their new tribal friends set off on an adventure, uncovering the land’s secrets along the way. Lighthearted and funny, without missing classic Jackie Chan action, it’s perfect for families looking for something easygoing amid the holiday bustle.
Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector (熊出没·年年有熊)
It wouldn’t be Spring Festival without the Bonnie Bears. The long-running franchise has claimed a spot in the holiday calendar for over a decade. And for families with young kids, it’s practically a ritual viewing.
This year’s installment centers on the mythical nian beast from Chinese folklore. The creature is said to emerge during the Chinese New Year, inspiring traditions like fireworks and lion dances meant to scare away the beast. As always, the two bear brothers embark on another fantastical adventure, blending cultural storytelling with colorful animation for the young audience.
Whether you’re craving a sci-fi adventure, sword-swinging wuxia spectacle, or panda shenanigans, you’re in for a fun ride. And for international viewers, there’s good news too. Pegasus 3, Scare Out, and Blades of the Guardians have all secured North American releases. Don’t wait any longer, now’s the perfect time to head back to the theaters!
Cover via Weibo.
