电影院告急！空场率达40%，场均观众少至2人

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese film industry is facing significant structural challenges despite a strong start in 2025, with a notable decline in box office performance following the initial surge driven by the success of "Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child" [2][5]. Group 1: Box Office Performance - The total box office for the first half of 2025 reached 29.231 billion yuan, marking a 22.9% year-on-year increase, nearing pre-pandemic historical peaks [2]. - February alone accounted for 16.09 billion yuan, representing 55% of the first half's total, but subsequent months saw box office figures drop below 2 billion yuan, with June recording only 1.91 billion yuan, the lowest in a decade [2]. Group 2: Cinema Attendance and Operations - The total number of cinemas in China surpassed 13,000, a record high, yet average attendance per screening dropped to 2-4 people from March to June, with a staggering 40% of screenings being empty [3]. - The number of films grossing over 100 million yuan plummeted to 23, with "Nezha 2" alone contributing 52.8% of the total box office, indicating a significant reliance on a few major titles [5]. Group 3: Ticket Prices and Market Dynamics - The average ticket price in the first half of 2025 reached 45.6 yuan, the highest on record, up by 2.2 yuan from the previous year, which may have suppressed audience demand [6]. - The film and entertainment sector saw active trading in the stock market, with a slight decline in the Wind film and entertainment index by 0.16% as of July 10 [7]. Group 4: Industry Trends and Production Challenges - The investment risk for mid-tier films has increased sharply, prompting major film companies to focus on larger projects [14]. - The industry is experiencing a trend of cost-cutting, with production cycles being shortened and costs being meticulously managed [14]. - The traditional power of directors is diminishing, with production companies gaining more influence, as highlighted by the call for a change in profit distribution within the industry [15].