China’s cinemas are being told to stop relying on tickets alone. New guidelines from the National Film Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation encourage theatres to add AI concierge agents, karaoke booths and coffee shops to their lobbies, according to Bloomberg. The same guidance nudges operators toward movie-themed merchandise stores, licensed products, art exhibitions and pop-up shops, turning idle screening rooms and lobby space into retail and cultural venues. The timing is not subtle. China’s box office fell 40.6% year on year in the first half of 2026, to roughly $2.56bn, according to Screen Daily, the weakest first half since…