Promotional material for Scare Out Photo: Courtesy of Doubao

The lineup for the 2026 Chinese New Year movie-going frenzy, one of the country's most lucrative box-office windows, is taking shape as seven major Chinese titles have officially set dates for the holiday period, Chinese ticketing platform Beacon showed on Monday. 

The holiday season, also known as the Spring Festival film period, is a traditional cinematic feast in China, often generating record-breaking revenue. The 2026 slate promises a diverse mix of genres, from reliable franchises to fresh directorial ventures.

Topping the announcements is veteran director Zhang Yimou's contemporary national security thriller Scare Out, which has an ambitious day-and-date global release plan, according to the film's official Sina Weibo on Monday. 

The film, starring idol-turned-actor Jackson Yee, will debut on February 17, Chinese New Year's Day, across numerous international territories including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, and more. 

As the director's first venture into the national security genre, the film follows a rapid-response national security team racing to apprehend spies after classified information about China's latest fighter jet is leaked, promising a tense, silent game of trust and betrayal.

Joining Zhang's thriller is the highly anticipated threequel Pegasus 3, the latest installment in the massively popular racing series. The franchise has proven itself a holiday powerhouse: The first film grossed 1.728 billion yuan ($248.57 million) during its Spring Festival run, while the sequel accelerated to 3.361 billion yuan, according to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan. 

The new chapter continues the story of former champion driver Zhang Chi, who, after achieving his dream, faces a new reality with old team members departing and new technological challenges emerging.

Meanwhile, the wuxia (martial heroes) genre aims for a robust return with Blades of the Guardians. Directed by legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping and featuring A-listers such as Wu Jing, Jet Li and Nicholas Tse, the film bills itself as "the last grand feast of martial arts." 

With the production emphasizing practical action and on-location shooting in Xinjiang, the adaptation of a popular comic follows a desert mercenary on a perilous escort mission.

Family audiences have multiple options. The comedy-adventure Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe brings back the beloved panda "Huhu" alongside Jackie Chan for a tribal treasure-hunting caper. 

On the animation front, the perennial Boonie Bears series returns with its 12th feature, Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector, which introduces Chinese mythological elements and elemental powers for its core characters. 

Adding a touch of science fiction is Chinese director Han Yan's Per Aspera ad Astra, starring Wang Hedi and Victoria Song, which explores a virtual dream system and a reality-bending conspiracy.

The only re-screened film during the film season, documentary Return To The Wolves originally premiered on June 16, 2017. Adapted from the non-fiction book of the same name, it tells the true story of an orphaned wolf cub named Green. Rescued by the painter Li Weiyi from the Ruo'ergai grasslands and brought to the city, the wolf struggles to adapt to urban life and is eventually taken back to the wild, where he successfully reintegrates into a wild wolf pack.

Industry observers note that the finalization of this year's lineup occurred later than usual, reflecting a cautious climate. 

"Studios are in a wait-and-see mode," Jiang Yong, a film market analyst, told the Global Times. He suggested that after a prolonged period of market softness, a rebound is possible if the films deliver on quality. 

Shi Wenxue, a Beijing-based film critic told the Global Times that the competitive landscape will also include two extended Hollywood holdovers, Avatar 3 and Zootopia 2, whose runs have been officially prolonged through the holiday. 

"While they offer familiar, family-friendly alternatives, their screen share is expected to be limited by the wave of new local releases," he predicted.