Year-end review: The most popular Chinese movies of 2017
According to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, China's box office this year exceeded 50 billion yuan ($7.6 billion) for the first time ever, and Chinese movies accounted more than half of the earnings. Domestic films performed well in the Chinese box office, as films directed by both well-established names and newcomers attracted audiences.
Here are some of the most popular Chinese movies of 2017, let's look back together!
Military Movies
Chinese-made military movies, patriotic military movies especially, have become a more and more welcomed genre among audiences this year, which is much different from the past.
Commercial appeal and patriotic story lines mix in this new type of domestic military film. Certain film elements lead people to buy tickets at the box office, including high-quality action sequences and special effects, appealing stories and the performance of the cast, as well as echoing people's patriotic values and expectations.
Wolf Warrior 2 is a blockbuster domestic movie that broke China's box office record with earnings of 5.67 billion yuan ($864 million), and is the fifth highest-grossing film of 2017, as well as the 55th highest-grossing film ever worldwide.
The Founding of an Army is a movie that honors the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army, and was the 13th highest-grossing movie at the Chinese box office with 402 million yuan ($61 million). The film cast includes more than 50 famous Chinese actors and actresses performing as historical figures of the late 1920s. It shows a tough but hopeful time of Chinese modern history and the founding of the PLA.
Comedies
Comedic movies are always welcomed in the Chinese film market, since audiences enjoy spending their spare time or holidays with family and friends watching a funny story. Three comedies raked in big paydays according to the top 10 highest-grossing domestic films ranking of 2017: Never Say Die pocketed 2.2 billion yuan ($335 million), Kung Fu Yoga pocketed 1.75 billion yuan ($266 million) and Buddies in India earned 757 million yuan ($115 million).
In the last two years, low-budget Chinese comedies have shined on the silver screen without fascinating faces, renowned directors or grandiose scenes. Instead, success has been found with professional comedians, creative young directors and screenwriters, and down-to-earth funny stories that cater to the public's sense of humor.
Documentaries
Chinese documentary films have become a trend and received increasingly favorable reviews both at home and abroad over the past two years. Although most of them do not become box office hits, their thought-provoking approach to reality leaves an impression on their audience.
Documentary Twenty Two is named after the number of "comfort women" still alive at the time of its filming in 2014, detailing the lives of these elderly Chinese women through a humanistic and engaging lens.
Initially, the film did not find commercial success due to its somber subject and limited release. However, with the support of the public, as well as renowned directors and actors, it found its way to more screens.
Star Movies
Famous actors and actresses, renowned directors and the originality of the story are all significant factors in piquing the interest of Chinese audiences. Superstars usually contribute heavily to the box office.
In fact, taking a look at the top 10 highest-grossing domestic movies this year, several household names can be found: directors such as Hark Tsui, Feng Xiaogang, Jing Wong; actors such as Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Donnie Yen; actor-turned-director Wang Baoqiang and writer-turned-director Han Han.
The source of an adapted films also plays an important role in its success, as Chinese audiences prefer popular novels — both traditional and web-based — to become movies. However, as Chinese audiences become more diverse and harder to cater to, star-studded casts, directors and stories need better collaboration in order to produce popular films.
Journey to the West: Demon Chapter, directed by Hark Tsui and written by Stephen Chow, and Wu Kong, directed by Derek Kwok, are both fantasy-action-adventure films derived from Journey to the West, which is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature known and liked by most Chinese. The actors playing in the lead roles of both films are also stars with tens of millions of fans.
Youth, directed by Feng Xiaogang, is adapted from a Chinese novel with the same name. Most of the cast are newcomers, but their performance and the emotional story exceed expectations. Its box office has crossed 947 million yuan ($144 million) since being released on Dec 15 and it continues to rise.
Did you watch any of them? Which one is your favorite?
Source: CGTN
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