Box office blockbusters! Some of the most highly anticipated movies of 2025

A new milestone for China's 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 across the country.

The robust performances of the top-grossing movies, especially animated feature "Ne Zha 2," suspense comedy "Detective Chinatown 1900," and fantasy epic "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force," have also boosted movie fans' confidence in China's 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.

"This 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."

"Creation of The Gods II: Demon Force" and "Detective Chinatown 1900" have also been released at IMAX cinemas across 11 countries worldwide, bringing in more than US$1.2 million outside of China.

"Ne Zha 2," 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 will be officially released on February 14.

The Chinese New Year slate will continue to play in China for the next month, alongside Disney's "Captain America: Brave New World" and the re-release of Wong Kar-wai's classic romance "In Mood for Love."

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

"Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning"

"碟中谍8:最终清算"

Starring Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell, the action spy thriller is the eighth installment in the "Mission: Impossible" 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 "Dead Reckoning" 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, such as diving, flying and falling out of a biplane. The movie also explores and discusses the threat posed by artificial intelligence.

"Jurassic World: Rebirth"

"侏罗纪世界:重生"

Following the success of 2022's "Jurassic World Dominion," 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 to a backdrop of 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.

"She's Got No Name"

"酱园弄"

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 — 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.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash"

"阿凡达3:火与烬"

The epic sci-fi saga by James Cameron is the sequel to the 2022 production "Avatar: The Way of Water" and the third installment in the "Avatar" 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't 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.

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

"神奇四侠:第一步"

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.

"Blades of the Guardians"

"镖人:风起大漠"

Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, the influential martial arts choreographer behind movies like "The Matrix" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," 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.

"Dongji Island"

"东极岛"

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 — 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 process of the new feature film, lead actors Zhu Yilong and Wu Lei received strict training to portray their roles as fishermen. They not only reduced their body fat percentage to an astonishing level, but also delved into the lifestyle habits and survival skills of fishermen at sea.

"Superman"

"超人:遗产"

Based on the famous character from DC Comics, the film written and directed by James Gunn depicts Superman's 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.

"Zootopia 2: Rise of the Non-Mammalians"

"疯狂动物城2"

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 — Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde — 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.

"The Mermaid 2"

"美人鱼2"

The long-awaited sequel to the 2016 hit "The Mermaid" 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 "The Mermaid" 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.

Where and how to buy tickets:

Online movie tickets can be purchased on Taopiaopiao and Maoyan. Movie buffs can also buy tickets at the theaters.

How to Buy Movie Tickets Using Alipay

Purchasing discounted movie tickets through Alipay is quick and easy. Just follow these steps:

1. Enable the Built-in Translation Tool:

Open Alipay and go to Me > Settings > General > Translation Tool.

Select your target language. Currently, Alipay supports 15 languages, including Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

2. Search for Cinemas:

On the home screen, use the search bar to type "Cinema."

Browse and select the movie ticketing mini-program you prefer, then proceed to purchase tickets online.

If the page is in Chinese, tap the floating Translation button to convert it into your selected language.

And that's it! Buying movie tickets has never been so simple. Try it out and enjoy the experience of booking like a local!