Be realistic about film sector

As of Dec 19, the box office revenue on the Chinese mainland totaled 43.7 billion yuan ($6.33 billion). Although the annual figure will almost certainly exceed last year's 44.1 billion yuan, it is much lower than the industry's 60-billion-yuan prediction at the beginning of this year.

The box office revenue on the Chinese mainland has rocketed for five consecutive years, with an average annual rise of more than 40 percent. That's what led to the prediction that it would reach 60 billion yuan this year. But anticipating that the dramatic increase in the past would continue into the future was only a wishful thinking.

The boom was partly caused by government subsidies, and its encouraging of investment in the film industry. This attracted a considerable amount of hot money and speculation in search of profits, creating a box revenue bubble.