Entertainment
China’s 2023 box office earnings exceed 54.9 bln yuan
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BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) — The Chinese film market has shown robust recovery momentum, with the total box office earnings for 2023 exceeding 54.91 billion yuan (over 7.75 billion U.S. dollars).
The figure is lower than the record highs of over 60 billion yuan in 2019 and 2018, but close to the level in 2017, making it the fourth highest annual box office in Chinese film history.
Data released by the China Film Administration on Monday showed that nearly 1.3 billion tickets were sold throughout the year.
Domestic productions have generated over 46 billion yuan in box office revenue, accounting for 83.77 percent of the national total.
The top 10 spots on the box office chart were dominated by domestic titles, with suspense comedy “Full River Red” ranking first, followed by sci-fi blockbuster “The Wandering Earth II” and crime drama “No More Bets” in the second and third place.
Zhi Feina, a professor with the Chinese National Academy of Arts, noted that domestic films this year saw a noticeable improvement in quality as they reflect traditional Chinese culture and real life, emotionally relating to the audience.
Looking back on the year, box office performance during key movie-going seasons stood out, including the Spring Festival and summer holidays.
Over the past year, a good number of young Chinese filmmakers, actors, and screenwriters have emerged as an important force behind the growth of the industry.
According to experts, their works have shown great promise and potential.
Director Guo Fan and his team behind the smash hit “The Wandering Earth” franchise have worked tirelessly to put Chinese science fiction on the big screen. The team that produced the animated feature “Chang An” have worked to represent the life of the “Immortal Poet” Li Bai in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The action movie “Born to Fly” offers a dramatic depiction of China’s elite pilots testing new fighter jets.
“The stories are told in a relatable yet energetic way,” commented one netizen.
“I can’t wait to watch the next installation of ‘The Wandering Earth,'” said another.
As a medium for cultural exchange, the film industry has played a crucial role in promoting communication and mutual learning between various civilizations.
Over the past year, imported blockbusters featuring diverse genres have enriched China’s film market, while an array of domestic productions that “went global” have amazed foreign audiences with the charm of Chinese culture.
The sci-fi hit “The Wandering Earth II” and the epic mythological masterpiece “Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms” hit the big screens in various countries.
Domestic productions such as “Hidden Blade,” “One and Only,” and “Lost in the Stars” also graced overseas cinemas.
In addition, China hosted Chinese film festivals or exhibitions in countries like Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Russia in 2023, enabling foreign filmmakers to understand Chinese films in-depth.
China unveiled the inaugural Golden Panda Awards last year, which honor global film, TV, documentary, and animation achievements, demonstrating efforts to expand cinematic exchanges between China and the rest of the world.
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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.
The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.
The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.
Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.
Other ticket options
- Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
- Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
- Friday: Dh75
- Under 15s: Free
- People of Determination + carer: Dh375
Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.
Bigger family attractions
Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.
The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.
Six sports and top rugby action
Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.
Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.
The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.
The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.
Music all weekend
Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.
Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.
For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.
With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.
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