TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s domestic film scene is off to a strong start this year, with first-quarter box office revenue already surpassing last year’s total, the Ministry of Culture said Monday.

By March 5, earnings from domestic films had matched 2025’s full-year total of NT$946 million (US$29.7 million). Three days later, cumulative box office receipts reached NT$971 million, setting a new record for annual revenue.

Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠) noted that Taiwan usually sees only one to three local films surpass NT$100 million at the box office each year. However, the latter half of 2025 and early 2026 have already seen five hits pass the milestone.

Domestic films now hold 58.14% of the market. The figure is up from 4.26% in the same period last year.

Li credited the success to filmmakers who, learning from past setbacks, have refined their understanding of audience tastes and embraced new genres and technologies. He added that these films are also attracting viewers who do not usually watch Taiwanese productions, reaching a broader audience and helping reshape the local film scene.

Popular titles currently on screens include "Sunshine Women’s Choir" and Lunar New Year releases "Kung Fu" and "Double Happiness." In March, audiences can look forward to "Deep Quiet Room," adapted from Lin Hsiu-ho’s (林秀赫) short story collection.

The documentary "Tuning Architecture: The Life of Albert Xu in Sound" will also hit theaters, highlighting Taiwan’s architectural and cultural heritage. April promises an even more diverse slate of local films.