"Kung Fu Panda 3" is one of the most anticipated films of 2016. (Photo : YouTube/DreamWorksTV)
According to China Film Co. Ltd., the country's biggest film producer and distributor, 33 titles are up for release and shooting next year.
A list revealed on Tuesday shows that the giant has four tent-pole movies set to compete on Feb. 8, a China Daily report said.
The date, which marks the first day of the Spring Festival holiday, also serves as the start of one of the busiest periods for film releases in China.
Among the four major titles is the biopic "Xuan Zang," which is based on the story of a Buddhist monk's journey to India about 1,300 years ago.
"The Monkey King 2," another blockbuster that draws inspiration from the monk's pilgrimage, is also up for tough competition.
Another contender is the fantasy comedy "Only You" helmed by Hong Kong veteran filmmaker Stephen Chow.
Martial arts fans and movie enthusiasts alike also look forward to the sequel of the Ang Lee classic, "Crouching Tiger."
Also included in the list are the third installment of the top-grossing animated title in Chinese box-office history, "Kung Fu Panda 3"; the Chinese remake of Julia Roberts' 1997 smash hit, "My Best Friend's Wedding"; the military-themed title "Our Wars"; and the sequel of the 2013 hit "American Dreams in China," "China's Salesman."
A number of Chinese science fiction will also join the much-anticipated list. These include "The Arctic," which follows the battle between men and mysterious creatures, and "The Wandering Earth" and "The Era of Supernova," which are both adaptations of Liu Cixin-penned novels.
Meanwhile, China Film Co. chairman La Peikang revealed that the country's box-office revenue pulled in nearly 42 billion yuan this year, a 47.1-percent increase year-on-year.
