China's box office revenue for this year's summer movie season, which spans from June 1 to Aug 31, had surpassed 8 billion yuan (about 1.12 billion U.S. dollars) as of Saturday afternoon, with three domestic films dominating the box office chart.
According to film data platform Beacon, leading the pack is the blockbuster comedy "Successor," which stars the acclaimed comedic duo Shen Teng and Ma Li. Released on July 16, the film tells the story of a wealthy couple who fabricate a challenging environment for their son to spur his personal growth. By Saturday afternoon, it had raked in nearly 2.57 billion yuan, capturing 32 percent of the total box office sales.
It is followed by the crime thriller "A Place Called Silence," which has pocketed 1.29 billion yuan in box office earnings since its debut on July 3. The film explores the poignant issue of campus bullying, earning it the second spot in the summer box office rankings.
Drama "Moments We Shared" secured the third spot. The film premiered on June 22 and had grossed approximately 498.24 million yuan.
The summer moviegoing period is the longest single screening season on the Chinese mainland. In 2023, the summer box office totaled 20.6 billion yuan.
China's 2024 summer box office hits 8 billion yuan
China's 2024 summer box office hits 8 billion yuan
Mounting uncertainty over the U.S. tariff policies under President Donald Trump's administration is fueling distress among the farmers of Iowa state, a U.S. state long regarded as the "granary and breadbasket of America," and disrupting the agricultural sector, particularly its soybean industry.
Iowa's agricultural sector is heavily export-dependent, and the U.S. abuse of tariffs has left the state's farmers uncertain about how to plan for the future amid sudden changes in policy direction.
"It has been really difficult, especially with the stress on the market since the announcement of the tariffs. Any unsold soybeans that we have now will sell at a loss. It's what does the next three years look like in this very uncertain environment with different tariff ideas every day, every week. Like how do we plan as a business for that," said farmer Corey Goodhue.
The uncertainty has pushed some farmers to shift to alternative crops like corn, which currently faces fewer trade obstacles. But the switch comes at a cost. Prices for fuel, fertilizer, and other inputs have surged under the broader tariff regime.
Grant Kimberley, a large-scale farm operator and senior director of market development for the Iowa Soybean Association, said costs are rising across the board.
"We don't ever like to see food and agriculture used as a weapon in a trade disagreement because it doesn’t do either country any good," he said.
Data from agricultural equipment manufacturers showed the cost of machinery in the United States rose 18 percent year on year in spring 2025.
The ripple effects of falling farm income are already being felt in the wider community.
"So I think the tariffs have a trickle-down effect. As for the commodity, if the farmers don't make money, then no one else benefits. John Deere ( the world's leading tractor maker) lays off employees, and this situation just works its way through the community. So small businesses are really struggling with it," said Goodhue.
Policy analysts have warned that the longer-term economic damage could extend well beyond the farm belt.
"At this point of time, it has not yet begun to bite because people have already had inventories of these goods at the lower tariff rates. But soon, at some point of time, and it will be soon that the impact will be felt at grocery store counters. We will see areas where the U.S. was very competitive losing its competitiveness, and with other suppliers taking their position," said Sourabh Gupta, senior Asia-Pacific policy specialist at the Institute for China-America Studies.
US tariff policy turmoil threatens Iowa's farmers, disrupting exports
