A week before its wide release, the film has already been projected to be a significant hit at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-dreamworks-china-20160126-story.html|title='Kung Fu Panda 3' is expected to fortify DreamWorks Animation's ties to China|author=Ryan Faughnder|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 26, 2016|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}</ref> ''Kung Fu Panda 3'' was released in China – its first market – on January 22, 2016, a week before its wide U.S. and China debut in a limited screenings previews. The film had a 3-hour special sneak preview where it earned $6.4 million from two different versions of the film.<ref name="THR">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-box-office-kung-fu-858877|title=China Box Office: 'Kung Fu Panda 3' Earns Impressive $6.4M in Previews|author=Patrick Brzeski|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 25, 2016|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}</ref>