Overseasidol.com — The sci-fi movie Per Aspera Ad Astra has grossed over 60 million yuan within four days of release, according to data from Maoyan Professional Edition.
While the opening figures show a steady performance, the production team is hoping for increased screening slots to help the film reach a broader audience.
During a roadshow event on February 19, director Han Yan became emotional while addressing the issue of limited showtimes.
He explained that producing an innovative film comes with significant challenges, including funding constraints and resource limitations.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that creative risks are necessary, noting that someone must be willing to attempt something different in order to push the industry forward.
Lead actor Dylan Wang also expressed his concerns during the event. He shared that after the film’s release, he eagerly searched for the nearest cinema screening, only to find the earliest available show was at 9:30 a.m. the following day.
He appealed to theaters to provide more screening opportunities, hoping the film would be given a fair chance to grow.
Actress Victoria Song echoed the sentiment, encouraging more moviegoers to support the film in cinemas.
Amid discussions about the film’s box office performance, some industry observers have questioned whether limited screenings are the core issue.
Others argue that the deeper problem lies in its release timing. The film debuted during the Chinese New Year holiday season, a period typically dominated by family-friendly, festive, and broadly appealing titles.
In contrast, Per Aspera Ad Astra targets a younger audience with its sci-fi adventure theme a genre that historically faces challenges during this holiday window.
This movie ranked 13th at the Chinese New Year box office with a total box office of 76 million yuan as of February 22, 2026.
No Response