China Box Office: ‘Minions & Monsters’ Takes Top Spot as ‘Keep Real’ Opens Second
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- "Minions & Monsters" debuted No. 1 in China with RMB111.5 million ($16.4 million) over the July 3–5 weekend, according to Artisan Gateway data.
- "Keep Real", a sci-fi comedy written and directed by Xing Wenxiong and starring Bai Jingting, opened second with $10.5 million and $11 million including previews.
- Bona Film Group's historical war epic "Crossing," commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Long March, added $6.4 million in its second weekend for a $27.6 million cumulative total.
- A24's "Backrooms" placed fourth with $4.7 million, bringing its China cumulative to $14.5 million, while Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5" rounded out the top five with $3.1 million (cumulative $36.9 million in China).
- Mainland China's overall weekend grosses hit $47.8 million, with 2026 year-to-date revenue at $2.61 billion — down 40.3% from the same period in 2025.
- The Long March commemorative film "Crossing" is directed by Xu Zhanxiong as a large-scale military drama, per the source.
Why it matters: Even with "Minions & Monsters" leading the frame, the underlying China theatrical market is contracting sharply — a 40.3% YTD drop versus 2025 means studios releasing blockbusters into this market are fighting for a notably smaller pool of ticket revenue than last year.
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