On Nov 20, China's box-office earnings surpassed 50 billion yuan ($7.63 billion) for the first time, and are expected to arrive at 55 billion yuan by the end of this year.
At the same time, domestic movies have done a better job than imported counterparts. Chinese film phenomenon Wolf Warrior 2 is the year's fifth highest-grossing movie worldwide.
The great success of Wolf Warrior 2 is not accidental, as it manages to capture the positive energy of the new era. The spirit of patriotism shown in the film has struck a resonant chord among moviegoers.
Meanwhile, Chinese movie fans have embraced diverse genres. The huge success of Youth, Never Say Die, Dangal and Coco has proven an inspirational story with a unique social media promotion means a great deal for the fate of a certain movie.
The poor performances of Once Upon A Time, Guilty of Mind, Wukong, and The Thousand Faces of Dunjia have revealed popular young actors or actresses in China or the adaptation of mega-hit online novels to movies no longer guarantee box office success. And Chinese moviegoers weigh quality over quantity in their hearts.
As the year has come to the end, let's remember some notable films from 2017.
One milestone
Wolf Warrior 2
Chinese film phenomenon Wolf Warrior 2 achieved huge success both at the box office and in public praise. The film received praise for its patriotic plot, action sequences, special visual effects and the cast's performances. The film tells the story of a former Chinese special forces agent as he adventures in Africa and fights against militants and mercenaries. With more than 5.6 billion yuan ($842 million) at the box office, Wolf Warrior 2 is the highest grossing film in Chinese cinema history.
Four blockbusters
Youth
The coming-of-age drama film Youth has stirred up a wave of nostalgia in China. To some degree, it is more than a simple film for a single generation, but a closer look at bittersweet days of love and war for all. The film chronicles the lives of a group of idealistic adolescents in a military art troupe affiliated to the People's Liberation Army in southwestern China. They experience love, lust and betrayal in the 1970s, a golden stage of their lives. From The Dream Factory in 1997 to Youth in 2017, director Feng Xiaogang has once again proved his status as one of the best commercial filmmakers in China.
Never Say Die
It may sound like a same old story: a male mixed-martial arts boxer and a high-profile female journalist who mysteriously switch bodies after an electrically-charged kiss. But Never Say Die has made the list of "Top Ten All Time International Box Office for Comedy Movies" for the sitcom-style humor, perfect scoring and slice of life storyline.
La La Land
In addition to being the biggest winner at the 89th Academy Awards, La La Land has successfully brought the charm of Western musicals to Chinese moviegoers. Though creating nostalgia for nostalgia's sake, the film chooses to honor the past while placing it in a contemporary environment, a different, wise approach compared with similar films.
Dangal
The Indian wrestling film Dangal has set a record as the first top-grossing non-Hollywood film in China. On Chinese media review site Douban, the film scored an aggregate of 9.2 out of 10 and earned $196.80 million in box office receipts. The way Dangal was promoted on Chinese social media, the cultural and social similarities between China and India, and more importantly the ideas of breaking gender roles and reforming education inspired by the film have struck a chord with many Chinese parents. These are the reasons for its success.
Five word-of-mouth films
Twenty Two
Without big movie star support or funding for further promotion, the documentary film Twenty Two has become unexpectedly popular in Chinese theaters. By looking at the lives of 22 surviving Chinese "comfort women" who were forced into front-line brothels for Japanese troops during World War II, the film has resonated strongly among Chinese people.
Paths of the Soul
A type of movie seldom staged in China's theaters, Paths of the Soul, directed by Zhang Yang, documents 11 villagers making a 2,500-kilometer pilgrimage to Lhasa. With amazing mountain ranges serving as the backdrop, Paths of the Soul presented China’s mysterious Tibet autonomous region to the world.
Angels Wear White
Angels Wear White tells a heartbreaking story about two young girls who are assaulted by a middle-aged man in a motel. Through a dual perspective, one from a victim and another from a female witness, the film tries to raise awareness of the "left behind" children in China.
Da Hufa
The booming Chinese animation industry is no illusion. Following the great success of Monkey King: Hero is Back in 2015 and Big Fish and Begonia in 2016, Da Hufa is the animated film of the year in the minds of most critics. The dark and terrifying painting style, and mature storyline seems to tell people Chinese animation is not for kids alone, but for people of all ages.
Bad Genius
Following a story of how talented people exploit their skills to help others cheat in exams and get high profits, the Thai film Bad Genius is the all-time highest-grossing Thai movie in China. The movie reflects a growing imbalance between rich and poor and the unfair allocation of educational resources. The impressive characters and unique storylines may help Chinese filmmakers learn a thing or two from their foreign counterparts.
Five imported films
Wonder Woman
2017 is a burgeoning year for women protagonists in films and dramas both at home and abroad, and the huge success of superhero movie Wonder Woman is no exception. In contrast with other traditional DC Comics' superheroes, Wonder Woman is a worthy mentor and role model for young girls against the backdrop of the absence of inspirational female superheroes in the modern age. Meanwhile, the United Nations also names Wonder Woman as the ambassador for gender equality for her commitments to justice, peace and equality.
Beauty and the Beast
Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast blasted through box office records to open with an estimated $350 million worldwide this March, and Disney once again proved that adaptions of classics never lack audiences and attraction. The movie stars British pair Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, the latter best known for playing Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey.
Coco
In 2016, Japanese director Makoto Shinkai's youth-fantasy film Your Name caused a huge sensation in China, while this year’s winner may go to Pixar Animation Studios' Coco. Against the backdrop of the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, a day dedicated to celebrating family members who have died, the film has won big in its explorations of life and death. However, the poor translation of the film’s title sparked controversy on social media platforms.
Dunkirk
The war epic Dunkirk's immersive storytelling stormed Chinese cinemas this September. Telling the story of the evacuation of British and French soldiers surrounded by the German army during a fierce battle in World War II, Dunkirk puts the audience through an immersive experience many have found unique. Unlike most other war films, it doesn't draw a clear line between love and hate. Instead, it is more about showing the emotions and senses in the thick of an evacuation. Director Christopher Nolan was the main draw for many Chinese fans.
Loving Vincent
Composed of around 65,000 paintings created by 125 artists worldwide over more than six years, the biographical animated film Loving Vincent commemorates the 125th anniversary of Van Gogh's birth. To most art lovers, the film is just as beautiful as the work of Van Gogh. It is worth noting that Loving Vincent is the world’s first fully painted feature film and won the Best Animation prize at the 30th European Film Awards.
Six domestic films
This Is Not What I Expected
The success of the romantic comedy film This Is Not What I Expected proves a simple and pure love story can steal the hearts of moviegoers. The hit theme song When I Fall in Love with You, sung by Cheer Chan, adds an extra layer to the film’s splendor.
Our Time Will Come
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China, Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui released the war film Our Time Will Come on July 1. Portraying stories of several youths in that age, the film won positive feedback from critics but failed at the box office.
Mr. No Problem
Adapted from Chinese writer Lao She’s novel, Mr. No Problem revolves around a preposterous story between two landlords. The film was told from three people’s perspectives, revealing vicissitudes of human nature and society. The skilled acting of Fan Wei helped him win the Best Actor award at the 53rd Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival.
Legend of the Demon Cat
Farewell My Concubine stands at the peak of Chinese film history, so Chinese people always hold high expectations for top director Chen Kaige’s new work. With the release of his latest fantasy film Legend of the Demon Cat on Dec 22, many people found the six years’ waiting was worth it. Exquisite scenes, attractive plotlines and visual effects all ensured its success.
The Looming Storm
A shining star at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival, thriller The Looming Storm, set in the 1990s, follows a self-assured factory guard Yu Guowei. He puts himself into the role of a detective to start investigating a murder, only to end up finding himself in trouble. Ambition, confusion, belief and changes are key themes reflected in the film.
Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield
Given the so-so performance of wuxia movies in recent years, some say the golden era of Chinese swashbucklers may never come back. However, Brotherhood of Blades may be the exception. Starring Taiwan actor Chang Chen and Chinese mainland actress Yang Mi, the film follows an imperial guard called Shen Lian as he searches for the truth behind a conspiracy that framed him. Character portrayals in the film are some of the highlights.
Source: China Daily