China Overtakes U.S. to Become 2020’s Box Office Leader

On Oct. 18, movie ticket sales in China climbed to $1.988 billion for the year. The mark surpassed the U.S.’s $1.937 billion, according to

.

Credit for the shift initially goes to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused movie theaters around the U.S. to shutter. As theaters begin to re-open in the region, the U.S. could regain its lead in the coming months. However, uncertainty about the

and the increase in streaming around the world has left uncertainty about the future of America’s box office.