Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the current challenges faced by the Chinese film industry, indicating a significant decline in audience attendance and box office performance despite an increase in the number of cinemas and screens. The industry is experiencing a structural downturn, with a reliance on blockbuster films leading to financial instability and a lack of diverse content [2][17][49]. Group 1: Box Office Performance - As of July 23, 2025, the total box office for the summer season was only 4.297 billion yuan, far below the pre-pandemic levels of 17.778 billion yuan in 2019 [8][9]. - The summer box office in June 2025 reached a historical low of 1.91 billion yuan, marking the lowest total in a decade [22]. - The overall box office for the first half of 2025 was 29.231 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 22.9%, but over half of this revenue came from the Spring Festival, primarily driven by the film "Nezha: The Devil's Child" [16][30]. Group 2: Audience Trends - Since March 2025, the average number of attendees per cinema has been between 2 to 4, with an empty hall rate approaching 40% [12]. - A report indicated that by 2024, 57% of audiences watched only one film throughout the year, with the proportion of viewers under 25 dropping to 21% [38]. - The audience's departure from cinemas is attributed to a collective disappointment with the quality of films, leading to a perception that many movies are not worth the trip to the theater [40][57]. Group 3: Industry Structure and Financial Health - The number of operating cinemas in China surpassed 13,000, with nearly 80,000 screens, yet the audience continues to decline [13][16]. - The film industry's revenue-sharing model is deemed unreasonable, with production companies receiving only about 33% of the box office revenue after costs, leading to significant annual losses [34][36]. - The industry is heavily reliant on blockbuster films, with only 23 films surpassing 100 million yuan in box office in the first half of 2025, indicating a dangerous dependency on a few successful titles [30][31]. Group 4: Creative Challenges - The film industry is facing a talent drain, with creators under pressure to deliver commercially viable content, leading to a lack of innovative storytelling [41]. - The number of films registered for production decreased by over 20% in the first five months of 2025, reflecting a contraction in the industry [42]. - The rising production costs and extended filming periods are creating a mismatch between market supply and demand, further exacerbating audience dissatisfaction [46]. Group 5: Adaptation and Future Directions - Some companies are shifting focus from traditional film production to broader content creation strategies, such as developing IPs and diversifying revenue streams [51]. - The integration of non-ticket revenue sources, such as merchandise and food sales, is becoming increasingly important for cinemas to sustain operations [51]. - Despite the challenges, there remains a segment of the audience seeking quality films, indicating that there is still potential for growth if the industry can adapt to changing consumer preferences [55][60].