The film Nie Yinniang 3 (also known as Pegasus 3) took the top spot at the Chinese box office on its opening day, February 17, 2026, earning over 500 million yuan in ticket sales, according to data from the Lighthouse Professional Edition, a subsidiary of the Damai Entertainment ticketing platform.
As of 5:00 PM on February 17th, the total pre-sale box office for Nie Yinniang 3 had surpassed 200 million yuan, according to Lighthouse Professional Edition data reported on February 16th. The film is a sequel to the popular Pegasus series, directed by Han Han and starring Shen Teng. The latest installment follows Zhang Chi (Shen Teng) as he takes on a new challenge as a coach in the “Muchen 100 Rally Race” in Bayinbulak.
The film’s release coincides with the Chinese Spring Festival holiday, a peak season for moviegoing. Total box office revenue across China on February 17th exceeded 1.044 billion yuan, and the cumulative box office for the Spring Festival period (February 15th-23rd) surpassed 1.267 billion yuan, including pre-sale figures.
Nie Yinniang 3 features extensive racing sequences, similar to its predecessor, Nie Yinniang 2. The film’s plot centers on the challenges faced by human drivers in the face of increasingly sophisticated AI racing technology. Early audience reactions have been mixed, but AI-powered box office predictions from both Maoyan and Lighthouse estimate the film’s total gross will reach between 4.233 billion and 4.367 billion yuan, exceeding the performance of the previous two films in the series.
The film’s production involved Shanghai-based companies, and filming took place in Shanghai. Bona Film Group holds a 9.3972% stake in Shanghai Tingdong Film Co., Ltd., the production company founded and led by Han Han, and therefore has an indirect investment in Nie Yinniang 3. Alibaba Pictures also participated in the project as a strategic investor and handled the film’s special effects. Analysts suggest that strong box office performance will positively impact the investment returns of both Bona Film Group (SZ001330) and Alibaba Pictures.
Some industry observers predict the film could reach a total box office of 35 billion yuan, while more optimistic forecasts suggest a potential of 45 billion yuan. However, the ultimate success of Nie Yinniang 3 will depend on audience reception and whether it can outperform AI-driven box office predictions.
