Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the declining audience attendance in Chinese cinemas despite the expansion of cinema infrastructure, highlighting a disconnect between the number of theaters and the willingness of audiences to watch films in theaters [3][10][21]. Group 1: Audience Trends - In 2024, the national cinema attendance rate dropped to a historical low of 5.7%, indicating that in a 100-seat theater, only five to six people might be watching a film [7]. - The overall box office revenue in 2024 was only 425 billion yuan, a decrease of one-third compared to the 641.49 billion yuan peak in 2019, despite having more than double the number of theaters and screens [4][10]. - The average age of cinema-goers has increased from 27.7 years in 2021 to 32.5 years in 2025, suggesting that younger audiences are not replacing older viewers [27]. Group 2: Cinema Experience - Many viewers are deterred by poor cinema experiences, including uncomfortable seating, distractions from other audience members, and low-quality film presentations [21][25]. - The average ticket price in first-tier cities reached 49.6 yuan by August 2025, a 16% increase from 2014, making cinema visits less appealing compared to other entertainment options [21][27]. Group 3: Box Office Dynamics - The box office revenue is increasingly concentrated among a few blockbuster films, with the top 20 films accounting for 60-80% of total box office revenue, compared to 80-90% for the top 50 films in 2014 [18][20]. - The Spring Festival box office has become a dominant force, with the 2025 Spring Festival box office expected to be heavily reliant on a few high-investment films, creating a competitive environment where only a few films succeed [14][18].