Highly anticipated movies in diverse genres will be released during the upcoming eight-day Spring Festival holiday, from January 28 to February 4.

The Chinese New Year holiday, as well as the golden summer slot, are the two most lucrative and important screening seasons of the year for China's film market.

Most of the films on offer during the holiday are new installments of commercially successful film franchises such as "Detective Chinatown," "Boonie Bears," "Creation of the God" and "Ne Zha."

They will compete to lead the Chinese mainland box office chart and give the 2025 film market a robust start.

In 2024, China's box office revenue exceeded 42.5 billion yuan (US$5.8 billion). Statistics from box office tracker Dengta Data show that the post-95s are the main viewers at cinemas, with the proportion of female cinemagoers continuing to rise.

Industry insiders are optimistic about the box office receipts for the Spring Festival holiday as most of the films are mega-productions with high-level visual effects. In addition, these original film IPs have developed a big fan base over the years. Many films will also present IMAX versions for an enhanced immersive viewing experience.

The following are some of the most eye-catching movies to hit cinema screens this holiday season and in February:

"Creation of the Gods Ⅱ: Demon Forces Demon"

Release date: January 29

Directed by Wuershan, it is the second installment of the live-action, fantasy epic movie trilogy which is based on the ancient Chinese novel "Fengshen Yanyi," or "The Investiture of the Gods."

The film portrays a magnificent and mythological epic world in IMAX, depicting how the army and civilians of Xiqi defend their homeland from the army of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046). The ancient city of Xiqi was rebuilt for the shooting. More than 50 iconic buildings were established for the scenes of war and action in the movie.

"Operation Hadal"

Release date: January 29

The military action film shot by IMAX cameras is a new effort by director Dante Lam following the success of "Operation Mekong" and "Operation Red Sea." But this time, the film shifts the battlefield from land to the more vast and mysterious deep sea, and sets the timeline shortly.

The movie offers insights into the most advanced military equipment and strategies. The 110-meter-long "Dragon Whale" submarine is built on a 1:1 scale in the film, and the work of submarine soldiers and the special training are also vividly depicted on the IMAX screen.

"Ne Zha 2"

Release date: January 29

The sequel to the hit 2019 animated feature has comprehensive production upgrades based on the previous story. The stunning visual scenes, director Jiao Zi's mythological imagination, and the stories and emotions of young Chinese heroes are presented on the big screen.

The film presents both IMAX 2D and 3D versions. After the catastrophe, since the bodies of Ne Zha and Ao Bing will soon be shattered, Ne Zha's mentor plans to use the seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies.

"Detective Chinatown 1900"

Release date: January 29

Since its debut in 2015, the "Detective Chinatown" film franchise has gained increasing popularity across the world. Following the protagonists' adventures in Bangkok, New York and Tokyo, the new installment is set against the backdrop of San Francisco's Chinatown in 1900.

The film sets were built on a 1:1 scale, aiming to recreate the scenes of Chinatown more than a century ago. It also presents an IMAX version to tell a suspenseful story about how a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and a fellow Chinese investigate and unmask the criminal behind a murder case.

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes"

Release date: January 29

The film is celebrated Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark's big-screen adaptation of the classic work by the late Chinese martial arts writer Louis Cha, who is more widely known by his pen name Jin Yong.

In the film, Genghis Khan leads the Mongol army to go south to attack Xiangyang City of the Song Dynasty (960–1279). Martial arts masters from different schools join hands to defend Xiangyang with their masterstrokes. The blockbuster also has an IMAX version.

"Boonie Bears: Future Reborn"

Release date: January 29

It is the 11th installment of the "Boonie Bears" animated film series, one of the most commercially successful movie franchises in China. Since 2014, the "Boonie Bears" flicks have been box office sensations during the Spring Festival holiday and have also expanded their audiences to adults of all ages.

In this edition, the Boonie Bears and their friends travel to the future. At that time the Earth is invaded by spore plants, and humans are struggling to survive. They embark on a journey to save the world.

"Captain America: Brave New World"

Release date: February 14

The sci-fi adventure film directed by Julius Onah stars Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford and Liv Tyler. As the 35th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is based on the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name.

With the world undergoing a change, Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, finds himself involved in an international incident. He has to find out the reason behind a nefarious global plot.

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!