Hollywood
Chinese domestic movie market sees 35 per cent growth
NEW DELHI: Even as India continues to produce the largest number of films, China has shown a major growth with total box office revenue for the first nine months of the year at RMB16.4 billion (US$2.7 billion), a year-on-year growth of 34.9 per cent.
With a market share of approximately 58 per cent, domestic films continue to rule the market with RMB9.56 billion (US$1.57 billion) in total revenue, a year-on-year growth of 93.8 per cent, according to China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) in the third quarter box office statistics.
Five of the top ten grossing films of the first nine months of the year are domestic films that include Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (RMB1.24 billion), So Young (RMB 715 million), American Dreams in China (RMB 538 million), Finding Mr. Right (RMB 518 million) and Tiny Times 1 (RMB 488 million).
Opening at the end of September, Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon has already surpassed American Dreams as the third top grossing domestic film of the year. By last week, it had taken RMB 583 million.
Several major releases set for December are expected to further lift domestic films:
Benny Chan’s The White Storm, Feng Xiaogang’s Personal Tailor, Alan Yuen’s Firestorm, and Ding Sheng’s Police Story 2013.
Foreign films made RMB 6.87 billion (US$1.13 billion) in total revenue, a year-on-year decline of 5.2 per cent. This represents somewhat of a recovery over the summer. In the first half of the year, foreign films were recorded as experiencing a year-on-year decline in box office revenue of 21.3 per cent.
The top five grossing foreign films of the first nine months of the years — three of which were in cinemas during the third quarter are: Iron Man 3 (RMB 751 million), Pacific Rim (RMB 694 million), Furious 6 (RMB 412 million), The Croods (RMB 394.8 million) and Man of Steel (RMB 394.6 million).
Hollywood
Disney sells out ad slots for 98th Oscars broadcast
Strong demand for live events turns the Academy Awards into a global, multi-platform marketing moment
NEW YORK: Hollywood’s biggest night has also become one of advertising’s hottest tickets. Disney has sold out all advertising inventory for the 98th Oscars, underscoring the growing demand from brands eager to ride the cultural wave of major live events.
The sell-out marks the sixth consecutive live tentpole success for Disney Advertising. The streak includes last year’s 97th Oscars, the 59th Annual CMA Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, signalling strong appetite among marketers for moments that bring audiences together in real time.
For advertisers, the Oscars are no longer just a single night of glitz and gold statues. Disney’s “Content Everywhere” strategy has expanded the awards show into a sprawling, multi-platform brand playground spanning linear television, streaming, social media and digital content.
“Live continues to be one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with engaged audiences at scale, and the Oscars represent the very best of culture, creativity and community,” said Disney Advertising SVP, entertainment and streaming solutions John Campbell. He added that the company has reshaped the show’s commercial potential into a connected experience that stretches well beyond the broadcast.
Brands such as Mazda, Pfizer and Volkswagen of America are tapping into Disney’s wider ecosystem, appearing across original content segments including Know Your Movies on Hulu and Critically Acclaimed on Disney+. Partnerships also extend to social media through TikTok Pulse Premiere and to custom brand storytelling created by Disney CreativeWorks.
The result is what Disney calls the “Oscars Everywhere” approach. Rather than a few high-profile ad breaks, advertisers now find themselves woven through a series of moments before, during and after the ceremony.
These include On The Red Carpet at The Oscars, a live pre-show syndicated across major local markets and streamed nationwide, and the After the Oscars Show, which keeps the conversation going once the final award has been handed out.
This year’s sponsors include Rolex, returning for its ninth year, and Burger King, which joins the Oscars advertiser roster for the first time. Other brands in the mix include Disney Cruise Line, Dunkin’, Eli Lilly and Company, Eucerin, Intuit TurboTax, L’Oréal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Miebo, Paris Baguette, Peacock, Starbucks, State Farm, Toyota and Verizon.
The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
