BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The total revenue of China's science fiction industry in 2025 amounted to 126.1 billion yuan (about 18.05 billion U.S. dollars), according to a report released by China Research Institute for Science Popularization on Friday.

The total revenue has exceeded the 100 billion yuan mark for three consecutive years, and the industry is steadily entering a new stage of high-quality development, said the institute at the China Science Fiction Convention 2026 in Beijing.

The report covered five core sectors of the sci-fi industry -- literature, films and TV shows, video games, derivative products and themed tourism -- highlighting the annual development trends and future trajectories of China's sci-fi industry.

It indicates that the literature sector generated 5.19 billion yuan in annual revenue, marking its eighth consecutive year of growth, with digital literature emerging as a core driver of expansion.

In films and TV shows, revenue reached 8.16 billion yuan -- a 21.6 percent year-on-year increase -- driven by the growing influence of domestically produced sci-fi series and animation, as well as the rapid rise of AIGC-driven short- and medium-form video content.

The video games sector recorded 77.91 billion yuan in revenue, with Chinese sci-fi games performing strongly in overseas markets. Meanwhile, the derivative products sector saw explosive growth, with revenue surging 179.4 percent to 7.07 billion yuan, fueled by original IP and new product formats such as AI-powered designer toys that injected fresh vitality into the market, according to the report.

The themed tourism sector reached 27.77 billion yuan in revenue, up 13.8 percent year-on-year, with theme parks contributing the bulk of revenue alongside a steady increase in domestically developed attractions. Emerging experiences -- including large-scale VR experiences, immersive exhibitions, and script-based entertainment -- continued to push the boundaries of consumer engagement.

The report also indicates that the overall search interest in Chinese sci-fi soared 203.3 percent year-on-year, while the overseas audience for blockbuster IP continued to expand.

With stronger original IP capabilities, deeper integration of digital technologies, and continuous innovation in consumer experiences, China's sci-fi industry is accelerating its transition toward high-quality development -- marked by structural optimization and upgraded growth drivers -- demonstrating new strengths in the global convergence of culture and technology. ■