China Film Administration promotes summer movie lineup

The China Film Administration gathered prominent filmmakers at the China National Film Museum in Beijing on June 25 to promote new releases for the summer season, which include a diverse lineup of films ranging from revolutionary epics and comedies to sci-fi and animations.

Film officials and executives pose for a photo at the press event in Beijing, June 25, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]

The film slate is packed with nearly 80 titles either screening in theaters or scheduled for release, spanning a wide spectrum of genres and themes. 

One standout highlight is "Crossing," a new war epic marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March (1934-1936). It authentically recreates the Four Crossings of the Chishui River Campaign, a military feat famously described by Mao Zedong as his personal masterpiece of strategic command.

"The Decisive Moment," a much-anticipated sci-fi epic, follows astronauts decoding a mysterious signal from the past to rescue the future. The film tells the story of Chinese aerospace researchers through a sci-fi lens. Director and screenwriter Zhang Disha spoke on stage at the press event about his hope to use cinema to foster a dialogue between past and present generations of researchers.

Another highlight is the return of the king of comedy, Stephen Chow. His new film "Kung Fu Soccer," which he has both written and directed, combines Chinese martial arts with soccer. It is a spin-off of his hugely popular, award-winning 2001 film "Shaolin Soccer." Executive producer Ren Xiaoyi revealed the film will deliver Chow's signature comedic style while celebrating team spirit on the pitch, tapping into the World Cup fever this year. The film is set for release in July, as Chow himself revealed in a promotional video.

(Left to right)Zhang Disha, director of "The Decisive Moment," and Ren Xiaoyi, producer of "Kung Fu Soccer," appear on stage at the press event in Beijing, June 25, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]

Other notable films include the comedies "Make Zhonghe Great Again," "Keep Real" and "The Thrifty Angel"; the dramas "I Know Who You Are," "Hideaway: The Dossiers," "This Is My Time," "The Sunshine Thief" and "West by Northwest"; and the romance films "Hidden Love" and "Summer Blue Hour."

The launch event also introduced much-anticipated animated films including "Three Kingdoms: The Beginning," "All Wishes Come True," "Da Sheng Rises" and "Demon Agent."

Foreign films such as "Moana," "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "The Odyssey" and "Minions & Monsters" were also featured.

China Movie Channel launched a film think tank during the press event, bringing together experts and influencers including Raymond Zhou, Sha Dan, Luke Miao, He Xiaoqin and Song Fangjin. By uniting these key opinion leaders—who boast a combined reach of one billion followers—the initiative aims to share global film news, deliver professional reviews, spark movie going enthusiasm and promote Chinese and foreign films across multiple channels.

Members of China Movie Channel's film think tank pose on stage at the press event in Beijing, June 25, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]

At the press event, representatives from Hebei, Shandong, Sichuan, Guizhou and Shaanxi, provinces that served as filming locations or settings for summer films, also promoted film-themed tourism routes. For example, kung fu star Jackie Chan's seventh International Action Film Week will take place this August in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, running back-to-back with the city's inaugural Sun Island Film Week. Meanwhile, Guizhou province will offer promotions including exchanging "Crossing" movie tickets for admission to A-level scenic spots and redeeming 500-yuan consumption voucher packages.

So far in summer 2026, films released in the Chinese market have grossed 1.58 billion yuan. Last summer, the total gross for films was 11.96 billion yuan.