SHENYANG, 6 April – The 2025 Qingming Festival box office officially concluded on Saturday, with total national ticket sales reaching ¥378 million (approximately RM249.5 million). While this year’s performance fell short compared to 2024, cinema fans in Shenyang were pleasantly surprised to see their city making national headlines.

The IMAX GT theater at Wanda Cinema, located inside the Liaoning Science and Technology Museum, claimed the No. 2 spot nationwide in single-theater box office rankings during the holiday period. The theater attracted more than 8,160 viewers over the three-day holiday, with an average of 544 people per screening and an impressive 91.2 percent attendance rate, the highest in the country.

“The turnout exceeded our expectations,” said Mr. Chen Yifan, operations manager of the IMAX GT theater. “Our screen is not only the largest IMAX GT in China, but it also offers a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. We’ve had guests from provinces as far as Qinghai and Tibet. Many even planned their entire holiday around watching a film here.”

Launched in March with the screening of Ne Zha 2, the massive IMAX screen quickly gained national attention. Since then, it has become a new cultural and tourism landmark in Liaoning.

This year’s Qingming lineup included 16 films, with the imported animation Minecraft: The Movie taking the top spot with over ¥100 million. Director Feng Xiaogang’s Sunward Blossom, starring Zhao Liying, ranked second, while the long-running hit Ne Zha 2 took third place. Other notable entries were Silent Love, led by Zhang Yixing, and Fox Hunt: Operation, starring Tony Leung and Duan Yihong, ranking fourth and fifth respectively.

“I traveled from Dalian with my son just to see Ne Zha 2 on this screen,” said Ms. Liu Wen, a viewer waiting in line. “It was totally worth it. The sound, the image—everything felt alive. My child was completely immersed.”

Ms. Zhao Rui, a university student from Harbin who traveled to Shenyang with her classmates, also shared her excitement. “We saw the IMAX screen on Xiaohongshu and planned this trip just for the experience. It’s not just about watching a movie — it felt like a short cultural tour. We even visited the museum exhibits after the screening.”

Aside from scientific special-effect features, the theater is also expanding its offerings. Upcoming screenings include Fast & Furious 7, and management confirmed more high-profile releases are on the way.

“We want to create a destination, not just a movie theater,” said Mr. Chen. “This is a place where education, entertainment, and technology meet.”

With strong attendance figures and growing national recognition, the Liaoning Science and Technology Museum’s IMAX GT theater has positioned itself as both a cinema powerhouse and a symbol of regional cultural pride.