Blockbuster film sparks fervor for sports and fitness across China

A screenshot of the film Yolo

The passionate and inspiring boxing story in the blockbuster movie Yolo has ignited fresh fervor for sports and fitness among the vast audience as a growing number of people have kicked off their journey of fat trimming and body sculpting.  

As the comedy grossed over 3 billion yuan ($4.17 million) by Wednesday according to data from box office tracker Dengta Data, director/actress Jia Ling's commitment to shedding 50 kilograms for portraying a boxer and the intense physical training scenes in the film not only provided viewers with an audiovisual feast but also deeply resonate with the public's aspirations for fitness.

During the Spring Festival holidays in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, the number of members exercising at the gym increased by 17 percent compared to the same period in 2021 and 2022. The average daily attendance to the gym during the Spring Festival has skyrocketed by 60 percent, according to data.

In terms of age demographics, individuals aged 21 to 30 accounted for 45.3 percent of those exercising during the Spring Festival. 

Interestingly, the age group with the largest increase in participation was 41 to 50 years old. 

The film Yolo did spark a craze for fitness among the public and a larger number of people have inquired about courses to achieve a slimmer figure after the Spring Festival compared to the same period last year, Huo Tianyou, an instructor with the Guoao Xindongli Martial Arts and Boxing Club, told the Global Times. 

Since Yolo premiered on February 10, searches related to "boxing" have surged by 388.4 percent compared to the same period last year. The group purchase sales of boxing classes in Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing have increased by 292.59 percent, 164.3 percent, 149.86 percent, and 89.71 percent respectively, compared to the same period last year, according to the statistics by Meituan, China's online retail platform.