The China box office recorded a total of $23.5 million for the weekend of October 17–19, contributing to a 2025 year-to-date gross of $6.146 billion, an impressive 18.3% increase over the same period last year. Despite the robust annual growth, the weekend’s total was only half a million dollars above the previous weekend, signaling a continued quiet period in the market following the recent National Day holiday week.

Topping the charts was “Row to Win,” which climbed to the number one spot with RMB30.8 million ($4.3 million) over the weekend. This PMF Pictures release, a comedy-drama directed by Ma Lin and featuring Huang Bo, Fan Chengcheng, Yin Tao, and Li Jiaqi, has now accumulated $44.6 million since its debut on September 30. The film narrates the story of a coastal-town family, led by a once-tough patriarch, who unite during hard times to achieve a comeback.

In second place, China Film Group’s “The Volunteers: Peace at Last” added $3.6 million to its coffers, bringing its cumulative earnings to $79.6 million. This historical film, starring Wu Jing and Zhang Ziyi, commemorates the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army’s entry into the Korean War and serves as the third chapter in Chen Kaige’s acclaimed “The Volunteers” trilogy.

The weekend also saw two new major releases enter the top five. Disney’s “Tron: Ares” debuted in third position, securing $2.8 million. Following closely, Warner Bros.’ “One Battle After Another” opened in fourth place with $2.5 million. Rounding out the top five was Huace Pictures’ “A Writer’s Odyssey 2,” which earned $2.3 million for the weekend and now stands at a total of $49.4 million. This fantasy action sequel to Lu Yang’s 2021 hit continues its intricate meta-narrative, blending fiction and reality, with Lei Jiayin reprising his role alongside Dong Zijian and Yang Mi.

Globally, Disney’s “Tron: Ares,” which premiered on October 10, 2025, and debuted in China during this reporting period, is experiencing significant commercial difficulties. After 10 days of worldwide release, its global box office total stands at $102 million, comprising approximately $60 million domestically and just over $40 million from overseas markets. This performance notably lags behind its predecessor, “Tron: Legacy,” as “Ares” grossed in its entire first week what “Legacy” managed in just three days. Despite “Legacy” initially being considered a commercial disappointment, it garnered a substantial cult following over the past decade, which reportedly influenced Disney’s decision to develop a sequel.

Produced on a reported budget of $180 million, “Tron: Ares” is struggling to resonate with audiences and is even underperforming compared to star Jared Leto’s previous superhero film, “Morbius.” Interestingly, “Ares” recently surpassed the $100 million lifetime haul of David Fincher’s 1999 masterpiece “Fight Club.” Starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, with Leto in a memorable supporting role, “Fight Club” was a satirical dark comedy that initially confounded mainstream audiences and was perceived as a significant flop given its $80 million budget. However, it has since become perhaps the most prominent cult classic of all time, ranking 13th on IMDb’s list of the top 250 movies with an 8.8 score and holding a near-perfect 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a “certified fresh” 81% from critics.

Jared Leto’s career has seen him rise through the ranks with notable performances in films like “American Psycho” and “Requiem for a Dream,” culminating in an Oscar win for his role in “Dallas Buyers Club” and a reunion with Fincher in “Panic Room.” However, his reported on-set behavior and controversial public persona have often been cited as reasons preventing him from achieving consistent A-list stardom.

“Tron: Ares” represents the latest in a series of underperforming titles for Disney this year. The studio has faced commercial challenges with several releases, including “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts*,” “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Snow White,” and “Elio,” with “Lilo & Stitch” being one of the few exceptions. Looking ahead, Disney is pinning its hopes on upcoming blockbusters such as “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” to bolster its financial performance. “Tron: Ares,” directed by Joachim Rønning with a runtime of 119 minutes, is classified as a PG-13 Science Fiction Adventure Action film. Its screenwriters include Jesse Wigutow, David DiGilio, Steven Lisberger, and Bonnie MacBird, while Jared Leto, Jeffrey Silver, Sean Bailey, Steven Lisberger, and Emma Ludbrook served as producers.