The Eight Immortals Tops 20 Million at the Box Office and Extends Its Run Through November

The Eight Immortals (Ba Xian!) will remain in Chinese theaters until November 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The distributor announced the third extension of its screening key on October 12, a move that lengthens the commercial run of a film released on July 18 that has already grossed over 20 million yuan.

The figure was shared by the film's official team, as reported by financial outlet Sina Finance. This is the third time the film has requested an extension of its theatrical window: the first took it to September 17, the second to October 17, and it now adds another month for those who haven't seen it yet or want to see it again.

The Third Highest-Grossing Chinese Animated Film

With that figure, the film ranks as the third highest-grossing domestic animated production of all time, behind only the two entries in the Nezha franchise. That's no small feat: Chinese animated cinema has seen sustained growth in recent years, but few productions manage to stay in theaters nearly three months after release.

The box office performance of The Eight Immortals exceeds expectations for an adaptation of a classic mythological tale. The film takes the legend of the Eight Immortals of Taoism and reworks it with a tone closer to an adventure comedy: eight ordinary people pass themselves off as gods to overcome a series of trials in search of a treasure.

"The film has surpassed 20 million yuan and ranks third at the domestic animation box office, behind only the two Nezha films."

The lighthearted tone and the chain-of-trials structure have resonated with family audiences. According to information shared by the team, part of the commercial performance in recent weeks comes from repeat viewers, a behavior that sustains the box office once the novelty of the opening has faded.

What the Extension Means

The extension of the screening key doesn't guarantee that all theaters will keep the film on their schedules. The final decision depends on each cinema and its weekly planning. In major cities, availability will remain broad, but in smaller markets screenings will gradually be reduced.

The case of The Eight Immortals illustrates a recurring pattern in the Chinese market: productions with a strong initial reception tend to lose steam after two months, when the pressure of new releases reduces their screen presence. A third extension for an animated feature signals that demand is still active and that exhibitors see room to make each screening profitable.

The film also arrives at a time when the Chinese industry is looking to consolidate its own commercial animation model. After the success of the Nezha saga, which redefined box office standards for the sector, the arrival of a new franchise based on traditional mythology confirms that audiences respond to these types of stories when they're updated with contemporary narratives.

With just over a month of theatrical run ahead, the final figure for The Eight Immortals can still grow. The film has a chance to keep adding numbers in an autumn stretch with no major animated releases on the Chinese calendar.