With China’s box office facing an unprecedented 70% slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic, next year’s centenary of the Chinese Communist Party is looking like the industry’s best bet.

Movies that celebrate the 100-year anniversary will get the support of the Party, Wang Xiaohui, executive deputy minister of the CCP Central Committee Propaganda Department, said in April.

Several films have already been scheduled to premiere on the July 1 Party Foundation Day. Many more that are still at the planning or production stage are expected to be aired that day, as well as a number of television dramas.

Films and TV dramas are regulated by the China Film Administration, which is under the CCP’s propaganda department. It dictates whether, when and how a movie is played in theaters. Material not in line with the party’s objectives is censored or denied screening slots.

Mainland box office sales were 18.38 billion yuan (US$2.8 billion) in the year to Sunday, a drop of more than 70% from last year’s total of 64.15 billion yuan, according to movie platform Maoyan Entertainment.

Among the top 10 movies, nine were produced domestically. American blockbuster Tenet only managed 10th place.

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