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Movies about moles hired by police to infiltrate gangs are always an interesting subgenre within the crime thriller-action-drama genres. Films like “Infernal Affairs” (2002), its remake “The Departed” (2006), “Judas and the Black Messiah” (2021), or “BlacKkKlansman” (2018) are all rewatch-worthy films. This genre often depicts characters struggling to choose a side, caught between loyalty and survival, and rarely does anyone escape unscathed. The British-Hong Kong filmmaker Dante Lam’s Chinese action drama, “The Stool Pigeon” (2010), has the same level of intensity in its own style. More than the entertainment, this shows the compromise cops make in Hong Kong using informants. How they are bound by rules and limited budgets, and how unstable informants’ lives turn out after the promises from cops, though they sign everything in a contract, like a job offer.

The Stool Pigeon (2010) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Don Lee is a police detective whose job is to hire ex-convicts to infiltrate...

Exclusive: Hong Kong star Ekin Cheng and fast-rising actress Natalie Hsu are set to receive honorary awards at the New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) next month.

Acclaimed actor and singer Cheng will accept the Star Asia Award on July 14, honouring nearly four decades on screen, while Hsu will receive the Screen International Rising Star Award on July 12, recognising a string of roles in recent major films.

Both most recently starred in Jill Leung’s romantic fantasy drama Last Song For You, which received seven nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards including a best actress nod for Hsu and...

Terrific sniper scenes can be found in all kinds of movies, from action and war films to thrillers and even comedies. There are fun scenes like the ridiculous curved bullets in "Wanted" and wild train shot in "Gemini Man," and there are gut-wrenching sequences like the ones in "Saving Private Ryan" (one of the most brutal  scenes in the movie) and "Full Metal Jacket." They're just scenes, though, in films focused elsewhere -- but there are other movies where the sniper sits as an integral element throughout.

Sniper movies put the shooter and their rifle front and center as main characters. Some are heroes, some are villains, and others can exist in the nebulous space between. All of them, though, are integral parts of the story being told. Now, keep reading for a look at the 15 best sniper movies of all time, ranked.

Read more: The 12 Best Navy Seal Movies,...

Distribution Workshop has picked up international rights to Chinese director Steven Zhang Zhonghua’s Iou, a comedy drama set against the background of recent illegal fundraising scams, starring Aaron Kwok.

The film is produced by Hong Kong’s Julia Chu, reuniting with Kwok after their work together on Port Of Call (2015) and Where The Wind Blows (2022). Zhang is described as an emerging talent from China’s post-80s generation. Kwok is one of Hong Kong’s biggest stars, recently appearing in Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In.

Taipei-based Distribution Workshop will launch sales on the film at Filmart, which is taking place March 17-20 in Hong Kong.

Kwok plays a desperate man who is trying to repay his debts by any means necessary. He blockades the rural home of a pair of simple-minded but compassionate siblings, hoping to force their father home to repay his loan to him, but is...

Hong Kong leading man Aaron Kwok will next star in Iou, a heartwarming drama directed by Steven Zhang Zhonghua. The film reunites Kwok with Hong Kong producer Julia Chu, with whom he teamed up for Port of Call (2015) and Where the Wind Blows (2022). Distribution Workshop is shopping the film to international buyers this week at Hong Kong’s Filmart content market.

Set against the background of recent, real-life fundraising scams in China, Iou is a comedy-drama “that satirizes the selfishness of an interest-driven society,” according to the producers.

Kwok plays a desperate man struggling between survival and kindness. Trying to repay his own debts by all means necessary, Kwok’s character, a man named Wu, blocks two siblings inside their rural Shaanxi home, hoping to force their father to pay back the money Wu loaned him. Despite causing him endless headaches, the siblings’ simple-mindedness and compassion transform Wu, leading him...

From a celebrated television actor to a multi-award-winning film star and the founder of One Cool Group, Koo is renowned for his outstanding performances and dedication to fostering the growth of local cinema. He has actively nurtured talent and breathed new life into the industry, cementing his legendary status through his remarkable accomplishments and lasting influence.

HKIFF49 will take place from 10 to 21 April. As a tribute to Koo’s contribution to Hong Kong cinema, it will showcase his ten most influential works, publish a commemorative book, and produce a limited-edition notebook in collaboration with long-term festival partner Moleskine. The star actor-turned-producer will also engage in a Face to Face session to share his insights and vision with the public.

Albert Lee, Executive Director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (Hkiffs), paid tribute to Koo, stating, “After serving as the Hkiff ambassador for five consecutive years since 2014, we are...

The Chinese box office hit a record high over Lunar New Year with animation Ne Zha 2 and prequel Detective Chinatown 1900 helping deliver a total gross of more than $1.1bn (RMB8bn) over six days from January 29 to February 3

The Year of the Snake made a strong start last Wednesday (January 29), the first day of the holidays, with takings of $250m (RMB1.8bn), up 35% on 2024 and the biggest single day gross ever in China – beating the previous record of $235m (RMB1.69bn) from 2021.

Six new local titles were released over the period and the total gross is expected to...

Chinese New Year box office started with a bang today in China, as Maoyan estimates 1.8B yuan ($248.3M) was generated for all films on day-one of the holiday period. This would mark a new milestone that well exceeds 2021’s previous first-day New Year record of 1.69M yuan.

For its part, Imax topped itself on Wednesday, seeing a Cny day-one record-breaking haul of $12M, besting its previous high of $11M in 2021. With 5% of the Cny box office so far, and on less than 1% of total screens, Imax captured its biggest percentage of the first-day results ever. Attendance for Imax was also at a new peak with 1.2M admissions nationwide.

The No. 1 title ushering in the Year of the Snake on Wednesday was Enlight’s Ne Zha 2, the follow up to 2019’s animated hit, with 486.6M yuan ($67.1M). In Imax, it grossed $2.5M.

Behind Ne Zha 2 at No. 2 for the day is...

“Octopus with Broken Arms” led the Chinese box office for a fifth consecutive weekend, earning Rmb 51.2million ($7.1 million) over the Jan. 24–26 weekend, according to Artisan Gateway.

The crime thriller has brought its cumulative gross to $126 million, solidifying its position as 2025’s first box office hit.

“Honey Money Phony” held onto second place with $4.5 million in its fifth weekend. Directed by Su Biao, the comedy has maintained its appeal, reaching a cumulative total of $59.7 million.

“Big World” remained in third place with $2.5 million. The Yang Lina-directed family drama about a young man with cerebral palsy and his grandmother has now earned $105.3 million since its release.

In fourth place, the China release of 2003 anime classic “Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital” earned $1.1 million, bringing its total to $19.9 million.

Debuting in fifth place, “Operation Hadal” grossed $1.1 million in previews ahead of its Jan. 29 Lunar New Year release. Directed by Hong Kong action veteran Dante Lam,...

"We have to sink it!" Well Go USA has posted the teaser trailer for Operation Hadal, a Chinese action thriller from filmmaker Dante Lam. This jingoistic movie is about the Chinese Navy going all out to defend an offshore platform in the sea. It's set for a US release at the end of February after originally opening in China this month first. The offshore platform Deep Blue 3 in Chinese territorial water has been occupied by mercenaries. The Chinese Navy sets sail then to repel invaders as the Jiao Long commando team prepares for a fierce fight in the deep sea. So this is mostly a movie about the Chinese Navy being badass and taking out bad guys (they've been making these for years - also see The Battle at Lake Changjin). Starring Xuan Huang, Yosh Yu, Bryan Larkin, Luxia Jiang, Karry Wang, Kelvin Taylor, Sean Kohnke, Cory Beeston. Half of...

Foreign visitors were in short supply at Saturday’s opening ceremony of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, but that did little to diminish the festive atmosphere.

The ceremony was held at the Shanghai Grand Theater in the downtown area on an evening that was warm and spring-like and without the “plum rain” or summer downpours that the city is known for at this time of year.

Arguably the biggest names in attendance were Hong Kong actor and “Westworld” star Daniel Wu, Hong Kong director Dante Lam, Chinese star actor-director-producer Xu Zheng and Japanese actor Yakusho Koji, who won the best actor award a year ago at Cannes for his leading role in Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days.” Marco Mueller, a celebrated festival director and artistic consultant, was also on hand in his adopted home town.

Wu was representing new film “Decoded,” directed by Chen Sicheng, whose “Lost in the Stars...

Before heading off to mainland China to direct those patriotic but commercially successful films like “Operation Mekong” (2016), “Operation Red Sea” (2018), “The Battle of Changjin” (2021), Dante Lam's last Hong Kong film starring Nick Cheung was “The Demon Within” (2014). Now, back to his roots and home turf almost a decade later and this time co-directing with Calvin Tong, he delivers us the extremely violent Category III, adults only “Bursting Point”, again with Cheung in the lead.

Veteran chief inspector Bond Sir of the anti-narcotic branch is desperate to apprehend the boss of a local drug traffickers' gang Yang (Shaun Tam). Bond then plants a young cop Jiang Ming (William Chan) as a mole into their organization. After several unsuccessful confrontations with high casualties on both sides, the police manage to retain Yang's brother but he later dies in custody which further angers Yang. Furthermore, Ming seems to have blown his undercover...

Action comedy film “Baby Hero” was launched at Singapore’s Asia TV Forum and Market on Thursday.

The film is a co-production between Singapore’s Hong Pictures and Bangkok-based Hollywood (Thailand). Principal photography will commence in the first quarter of 2024 with a view to releasing the film in 2025.

“Baby Hero” was launched in the presence of actors Joshua Tan, Zoen Tay, Justin Misson, Wang Weiliang, Lin Youfa and Vithaya Pansringarm, producer ‘Boy’ Watson and Singapore’s senior minister of state for communications and information Tan Kiat How.

The launch event was preceded by a celebration of casting portal I Am Casting, the brainchild of Singaporean actor and comedian Irene Ang who revealed plans to take the service global. Ang explained that the portal was for the gamut of actors across age groups, ranging from emerging stars to veterans.

Ang said that it is never too late to start as an actor.

The crime drama will be released on December 30.

Trinity CineAsia has acquired Hong Kong tentpole The Goldfinger for the UK and Ireland after striking a deal with Emperor Motion Pictures.

The crime drama will reunite Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau and Tony Leung with writer/director Felix Chong for the first time since 2002’s Infernal Affairs. That film, co-written by Chong and directed by Lau and Alan Mak, spawned a trilogy of films and inspired Martin Scorsese’s 2006 Oscar-winning crime thriller The Departed.

UK-based Trinity CineAsia will theatrically release The Goldfinger in UK and Irish cinemas on December 30, co-ordinated with...

The latest film from the director of ‘Farewell My Concubine’ will be released in China in late September.

Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to Chinese war epic The Volunteers: To The War by Chen Kaige, the acclaimed director of Farewell My Concubine and The Battle At Lake Changjin.

The Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales company will launch sales on the feature at the Asian Contents and Film Market in Busan next month, following its release in China on September 28. The international sales agreement excludes North America, Australia and New Zealand.

The film, previously known as The Great War, is the...

Exclusive: Hong Kong-based producer Tsui Hark has boarded the ship as partner and co-producer of the Chinese pirate epic Shih, Queen of the Sea. Hark will partner with Anthony McCarten, Dakota Group and Facing East.

McCarten, whose biopic scripts range from Bohemian Rhapsody to The Theory of Everything, The Two Popes, Darkest Hour and numerous others, has here written the script about Shih Yang, aka Cheng I Sao, who dominated the South China Sea during the Qing Dynasty. Born into poverty, she worked on a “flower boat” brothel where she met the notorious pirate leader Cheng Yi, joining him at sea. Upon his death in 1807, she assumed full command of the fearsome Red Flag Fleet, commanding over 1,800 pirate ships and an estimated 80,000 pirates. By comparison, Blackbeard commanded four ships and 300 pirates within the same century. Shih instigated sweeping reforms to the rules of piracy, ordering execution for rape or marital...

Leading Chinese film director Chen Kaige is poised to shoot historical epic “Swan Song” as his next feature movie. It will focus on 18th century classical music composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky through critical failure, persecution for his sexuality and a mysterious death during the strife of the soon-to-collapse Russian Empire.

Moonstone Entertainment will launch pre-sales on the film at Cannes later this month. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2024 and early 2025 in the Baltics.

“Swan Song” was written by Shahar Stroh, who will also produce alongside Moonstone principal Etchie Stroh. Corporate credits go Moonstone Entertainment and Strohberry Films.

“The story of ‘Swan Song’ goes beyond the music of one man. It is about the perpetual struggle of beauty and love against darkness and hate, and I am excited to be bringing it to a global audience,” said Chen in prepared comments. “Creating a visually stunning and compelling story, paired with Tchaikovsky’s timeless music,...

Although Filmart felt quiet on its first morning, with many attendees glued to their phones watching the Oscars, it soon turned into a reasonably vibrant market, with sales companies locked in back-to-back meetings, new project announcements and a few star appearances to liven up proceedings.

With some large country pavilions deciding to skip the event, the trade show floor in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre had a lot of wide corridors and some empty spaces. But there was enough foot traffic and meetings activity to make it feel like a busy market.

“With two record-breaking Hong Kong films before and the historical Oscar wins during the market, this Filmart had a lot of hopeful energy,” says WME Independent’s Nelson Mok. “We found there were many co-production and financing opportunities that are going to pave the way for meaningful collaborations.”

Sales agents were welcoming the return of in-person...

Some 16 titles were showcased at a packed launch in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) presented a massive line-up of 16 titles at Filmart, including actor Nicholas Tse’s directorial debut New Police Story 2 and a further two action films also led by Tse.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first New Police Story, which was directed by the late filmmaker Benny Chan. The new feature reunites the original cast, including Tse, Jackie Chan and Charlene Choi, from the original film. Chan will produce for Tse who will direct for the first time.

The film is set to enter production this year,...

Despite a barnstorming address celebrating the re-opening of Hong Kong and China by Bona Film Group COO Jiang De Fu, it is clear that the film industry in China is still suffering its own version of long-covid, with box office tracking at around half of 2018 levels.

“The Chinese box office was RMB60.7 billion ($8.89 billion at current rates of exchange) in 2018. And 83 films made over RMB100 million. 16 films that made over RMB1 billion. Post-pandemic, in 2022, China’s box office was RMB29.9 billion. [Just] 41 films made over RMB100 million. [And] 8 films made over RMB1 billion. We are now only at 50% of the level in 2018,” said Jiang aty a presentation on the first day of Hong Kong’s FilMart.

According to Jiang, the RMB100 million ($14.5 million) figure is a significant one, because it represents a breakeven level for moderately budgeted Chinese films in the RMB30 million range.

“China produces around 1,000 films a year. Those that...

The first annual Parapod Festival, a celebration of all things paranormal, is taking place Friday, March 31 through Saturday, April 1 at various Santa Clarita locations.

“Although there is an abundance of paranormal content with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of views, we never really see these creators – filmmakers, podcasters, investigators – being honored,” remarked Tony Sweet, Parapod leader as well as executive producer and host of paranormal video podcast “Truth Be Told.” “That is why I wanted to develop a platform where all forms of paranormal content could be celebrated.”

Parapod will screen documentaries at the FilmFreeway Gold film festival, taking place the night of March 31 at the Regal Edwards Cinema Valencia, followed by stargazing at the Vasquez Rocks Nature Area.

Saturday, April 1 will be filled with guest lectures at the Hyatt Regency Valencia and ParaPod Awards in the evening. Guest lecturers include Dr. Robert M. Schoch from “Ancient Aliens,” Patti Negri of “Ghost Adventures,...

Dneg, the London-headquartered visual effects and animation house that has won Oscars for the likes of Dune and Tenet and also worked on season 4 of Stranger Things, has hired Adriano Rinaldi as general manager of its VFX and animation studio in Vancouver, Canada.

“Rinaldi will oversee Dneg’s team of more than 600 employees in Vancouver as the company further strengthens its focus on its Vancouver studio, which led Dneg’s recent Oscar and BAFTA award-winning work on Denis Villeneuve’s Dune.” the company said on Tuesday. “Rinaldi will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations in Vancouver and will collaborate closely with Dneg’s other general managers, local heads of department and the company’s global senior management team on wider initiatives.”

Rinaldi brings more than 16 years of international industry experience to the role, both as a senior manager and a creative supervisor. He most recently served as additional VFX supervisor...

Chloe Bailey Boards AGC Studio’s Wall Street Drama ‘Midas Touch’

Musician and actor Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish) has signed on to star in the Wall Street drama Midas Touch from AGC Studios. The flick follows the true story of Lauren Simmons, the youngest equity trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and only the second African American woman to hold that position. Bailey will star as Simmons in the pic, which will be directed by Numa Perrier (The Perfect Find). Simmons is an executive producer on the film, as are AGC’s Stuart Ford, Lourdes Diaz, and Glendon Palmer. CAA negotiated on behalf of Bailey and AGC’s SVP of Legal & Business Affairs, Anant Tamirisa, and Palmer negotiated on behalf of AGC.

‘The Pact’ Producer Little Door Expands With Drama Hires

The Welsh indie behind BBC drama The Pact, Little Door Productions, has hired Sherlock and Baker...

Upcoming Hong Kong comedy will star Hins Cheung and Ivana Wong.

Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) is set to release comedy Everything Under Control over the Chinese New Year period in mid-January 2023, buoyed by the recent commercial success of a string of Hong Kong productions.

It marks the second feature of director Ying Chi Wen and stars popular Hong Kong singer Hins Cheung in his second leading film role, Ivana Wong of recent hit comedy Table For Six and Michael Ning (Port Of Call) along with upcoming actors Jeffrey Ngai and Joey Hung Ka-Ho. Ying’s feature debut...

The Korean War has been a fertile ground for epic war features over the past few decades. Predominantly these have emerged from South Korea where the war is part of the national subconscious. Chinese cinema had tended to focus more on the impact of World War 2 and its aftermath until the release of “The Battle at Lake Changjin” in 2021. A huge success at the box office and another in the current trend of “Melody” blockbusters that incorporate patriotic themes in amongst the entertainment. With the endeavor requiring three directors, it comes as no surprise that the sequel was shot back-to-back to make the most of the production costs.

on Amazon by clicking on the image below

The 7th Company headed by Qianli (Wu) accompanied by his brother Wanli (Jackson Yee) attack the airfield protected by the American 1st division, supported by the artillery battalion headed by Yang...

After 1997, Hong Kong Cinema was in a state of flux. Many of the top tier talent had moved to America and the future looked bleak. Yet where there is a gap, there is opportunity and “Beast Cops” exploded into the cinemas in 1998, breathing new life into a genre that was struggling. Providing Michael Wong with the role of his career, it also highlighted the talent of Anthony Wong, elevating him from Category III villainy to true leading man status. Tt’s time to look back and revisit one of the final great films of the 1990s.

on Amazon by clicking on the image below

Tung (Anthony Wong) is a policeman that is comfortably playing both sides to maintain an easy life. His friendship with Fei (Roy Cheung) is part of this, with Tung eager to avoid any conflict or confrontation where possible. This all changes with the...

Last year, Ben Stykuc wrote in his review of “Three Days of a Blind Girl”: “In retrospect, Anthony Wong is the only actor I know that could outNicolasCage Nicolas Cage”, and his comment could not have been more spot on. Having build his career with secondary roles and first roles in Cat III films, Wong eventually managed to become one of the most respected character actors in the industry with a string of awards and outstanding performances to his credit. Just his presence is frequently enough by itself to elevate the films he participates in, with him portraying rather different characters throughout his career, with equal artistry and much gusto. To celebrate this wonderful actor, we present 16 of his best performances, in alphabetical order, focusing on a diversity of roles that have him play from a a priest to rapist, from a cop to a sadistic killer, and anything between.

The question arising at every Cannes Film Festival lineup announcement about why the festival has not selected films from a particular country tends to irk chief selector Thierry Frémaux. But this year, with films from China notable by their absence, Frémaux may be asking himself if he messed up, or whether bigger forces are at play?

Last year, Cannes was at pains to conceal its selection of Hong Kong pro-democracy film “Revolution of Our Times” until as late as possible, in order not to alert mainland Chinese authorities or disrupt the other Chinese indies showing in the festival.

China experts differ as to how much Cannes’ defiance last year was a factor in this year’s de facto boycott.

“The Chinese Communist Party is well aware of the last-minute showing of ‘Revolution of Our Times’ at Cannes just one day before the Palme d’Or was to be awarded,” says Stanley Rosen,...

Last month’s Udine festival of all things East Asian was the launch pad for “Making Waves — Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema,” a collection of 13 films that will travel to a dozen cities in Europe and Asia. Billed as an “extravaganza,” mixing old and new talent, the event is pegged to the 25th anniversary celebrations of the return of Hong Kong to China after 150 years of British colonial rule.

But it is no longer clear to everyone that Hong Kong cinema has the energy, willpower or finance to face down its larger demons. Its problems range from the long-term drift of Hong Kong talent into the mainland Chinese industry to censorship and marginalization.

Last year began with Hong Kong cinemas under pressure from pro-Beijing media to change their releases, and raids on private screenings. These were followed by an amended law that introduces film censorship according to national security concerns...

The 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF46) will pay tribute to iconic actor-director-producer Sandra Ng as this year’s Filmmaker-in-Focus.

Re-scheduled to 15 – 31 August, the postponed HKIFF46 will celebrate Ng’s illustrious career with a retrospective of ten seminal works, the publication of a commemorative book and, in collaboration with the festival’s long-term partner Moleskine, a special edition notebook. Ng will also attend a Face-to-Face session to share her insights and anecdotes with the public.

Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Executive Director Albert Lee lauds Ng’s chameleon-like ability to deliver memorable performances across all genres and give layered nuances and diversity to each challenging role that reflects the dynamism of modern women.

“The evolution of Sandra’s career, from acting to directing and producing, reflects her multifaceted calibre and acumen and evidences the transformation of Hong Kong cinema,” Mr Lee said. “We are proud to recognise her indelible contributions.

‘The Battle at Lake Changjin II’ headed the mainland Chinese box office for the fifth successive weekend as cinemas await significant new content.

“Changjin II” earned $7.5 million over the latest weekend, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. The increment expanded the film’s aggregate to $626 million since release on Feb. 1, 2022, the first day of the Lunar New Year holidays.

The big-budget propaganda film is co-directed by three of Greater China’s most successful directors Chen Kaige, Dante Lam and Tsui Hark. It follows a first instalment which was released in October ond grossed over $900 million to become the all-time record holder in the country.

Chinese comedy “Too Cool to Kill” and Chinese drama “Nice View” held on to the second and third chart positions that they have occupied for weeks, with $6.0 million and $4.0 million weekend hauls. Their cumulative scores are extended to $403 million and $211 million, respectively.

Japanese romantic drama...

Trinity Cine Asia has acquired rights to mainland Chinese blockbuster “The Battle at Lake Changjin II” for release in the U.K. and Ireland. The deal was struck with sales agency Distribution Workshop.

Trinity plans an almost immediate release from Feb, 18, 2022, barely two weeks after the film launched in Chinese theaters on Feb. 1, in time for the Lunar New Year holidays. The company plans to have copies of the film in over 25 cities.

In China the film dominated the holiday season and has accumulated $480 million (RMB3.05 billion) to date, making it the world’s top grossing film in 2022.

The new film deploys the same three directors, Tsui Hark, Chen Kaige and Dante Lam, as its October 2021 predecessor “The Battle at Lake Changjin.”

Also known as “Watergate Bridge,” the new film is a further tribute to Chinese heroism during the early part of the Korean War. It sees the 7th Infantry...

Chinese patriotic war epic ’The Battle At Lake Changjin II’ topped the global chart with $153.5m from its first six days.

Worldwide box office February 4-6 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (World) Cume (World) 3-day (Int’l) Cume (Int’l) Territories 1. The Battle At Lake Changjin II (various) $153.4m $153.4m $153.4m $153.4m 2 2. Too Cool To Kill (various) $111.4m $111.5m $111.4m $111.5m 1 3. Nice View (various) $45.5m $45.5m $45.5m $45.5m 1 4. Boonie Bears: Back To Earth (various) $38.9m $40m $38.9m $40m 1 5. Jackass Forever (Paramount) $28.7m $28.7m $5.2m $5.2m 10 6. Spider-Man: No Way Home (Sony) $25.2m $1.7bn $15.6m $1bn 64 7. Sniper (various) $22.8m $22.8m $22.8m $22.8m 1 8. Moonfall...

“The Battle at Lake Changjin II” lived up to its blockbuster billing with a more than $75 million box office haul by lunchtime on Tuesday, its opening day in mainland Chinese theaters.

The film, aka “Watergate Bridge” had grossed RMB487 million ($76.5 million) by 1.30 pm, according to online ticketing agency Maoyan and Alibaba’s Beacon data service. At this pace a $100 million opening day is possible.

State media has forecast that the film may propel the Chinese New Year week to over $1 billion and that the 149-minute film could eventually become the highest-grossing film of all time in China.

To do that, it would have to surpass “The Battle at Lake Changjin” which was released on Oct. 1, 2021 and, over a prolonged run in cinemas, earned $913 million to become the second biggest film worldwide in 2021, behind “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

Despite the short interval between the two outings, there is a reasonable chance...

China’s cinema box office trod water in the weekend ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays and an imminent surge of new release titles. These mean that the next few days could add up to the biggest week in Chinese movie history.

Over the latest weekend, though, the nationwide aggregate was a paltry $21.4 million, the lowest weekend this year, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.

“Fireflies in the Sun,” a Wanda Pictures-backed thriller, said to be a remake of “John Q,” climbed back to first place with a $4.1 million take. It was first released in mid-December and has now built a cumulative of $174 million.

Patriotic pandemic film “Embrace Again” slipped to second place with $3.9 million, giving a running total of $148 million. Comedy, “Another Me” took $2.9 million for a $73 million cumulative since release on Jan. 1, 2022. Chinese crime thriller “G Storm” earned $2.8 million over the weekend for a total...

Eight local titles come out in China on February 1

The Battle At Lake Changjin II looks set to conquer the China box office when it hits cinemas on February 1, which marks the first day of the highly lucrative Chinese New Year holiday.

At time of writing, the action sequel has clocked up more than $40m (RMB258m) in advance ticket sales for its opening day alone, according to real-time box-office data from the country’s leading online ticketing platform Maoyan.

The release of the 1950s-set patriotic war epic was only officially announced less than three weeks ago as a late...

Errors and omissions are standard features of historical dramas everywhere. It is therefore no surprise to find Korean War history being filtered to suit domestic requirements in the three-hour Chinese blockbuster “The Battle at Lake Changjin.” Nor is it unexpected for U.S. military characters to be cardboard cutouts with excruciatingly bad dialogue. And, like many other jingoistic war epics, this prestige production co-directed by industry heavyweights Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam

The latest in a long line of strongly nationalistic films released during the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, “The Battle at Lake Changjin” has collected almost all its $905 million revenue (as of Dec. 27) from domestic ticket sales. It is currently the highest grossing film of 2021, with only “Spider-Man: No Way Out” and “No Time to Die” as serious rivals for the top spot.

This very old-fashioned production depicts a string of military engagements during...

The Battle At Lake Changjin has now become China’s highest-grossing film of all time.

Local comedy thriller Be Somebody retained its lead at the top of the China box office over the weekend (November 26-28), grossing a further $21.9m, according to figures from Artisan Gateway. The next three films in the weekend chart also kept the same ranking as the previous week.

Produced by Maoyan Pictures, Be Somebody revolves around a group of filmmakers trapped in a mansion where they are attempting to make a crime drama for a wealthy investor. The film has grossed a cumulative total of...

“The Battle at Lake Changjin” has become the highest grossing film of all time in China, after nearly two months of release. Co-directed by a trio of major helmers, Dante Lam, Chen Kaige and Tsui Hark, it is also the top earning film in the world this year.

The Chinese record was achieved on Wednesday evening local time when the film passed the RMB5.69 billion total achieved in 2017 by “Wolf Warrior II,” another patriotic war film. By midday on Thursday “Changjin” had advanced to RMB5.70 billion or $892 million at current rates of exchange, according to data from Ent Group.

The feat was confirmed by state-controlled media which had long predicted the achievement. Chinese media also reported that Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian sent congratulations to Wu Jing, the actor who played leading roles in both “Wolf Warrior” and “Changjin.”

The film is set during the early part of the 1950-1953 Korean War,...

Already the top film of 2021 globally, Chinese war epic The Battle At Lake Changjin is taking over the title of highest grossing movie ever in China, edging the previous leader, 2017’s Wolf Warrior 2. Through Wednesday evening local time, Lake Changjin had reached an estimated Rmb 5.693B ($890M) after 56 days in release. Wolf Warrior 2 finaled at Rmb 5,694.5M according to ticketing platform Maoyan. Presales alone for Thursday narrow the gap to a difference of about $2,000 making Lake Changjin‘s ascendance imminent. Maoyan is predicting an Rmb 5.75B ($900M) finish for the full run which is due to end December 30.

The news, which had been expected, is making headlines in China where local outlets are including the presales to claim the crown for the patriotic Lake Changjin. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian praised the achievement on social media today, offering his “congratulations” to actor Wu Jing “for surpassing himself.

China’s costliest film ever is a sporadically thrilling, historically dubious account of a Korean war standoff, with all the subtlety of a rocket launcher

China’s most expensive film to date and its second highest ever box-office grosser, The Battle at Lake Changjin possesses worryingly belligerent overtones. An account of a pivotal battle in November 1950 during the Korean war in which Chinese forces, who had infiltrated the country, pushed US marines back over the 38th parallel, this government-ordained project wastes no opportunity – current geopolitical tensions notwithstanding – to assert the moral superiority of the Chinese soldier. Not only is he unfazed by superior opposition numbers and equipment or impossibly harsh climate conditions, even the enemy catering doesn’t get him down. We see Uncle Sam chowing down on a bounty of turkey legs and bacon while the People’s Volunteer Army break their teeth on stony potatoes.

The film also applies its collectivist we-all-suffer-together message,...

Trinity Cine Asia is releasing on Friday 19th of November, The Battle At Lake Changjin, the biggest worldwide box office hit of 2021, with more than $878 million in ticket sales to date, far ahead of No Time To Die, making it the second-biggest Chinese grossing film, only behind Wolf Warrior II (also released by Trinity Cine Asia). The UK will mark the first international territory release of the film outside of Asia in over 25 cities.

Billed as the most expensive Chinese film ever made, with a reported $200m budget, The Battle at Lake Changjin stars Wolf Warrior I & II and Better Days leading men Wu Jing and Jackson Yee, respectively; and is co-directed by three leading, acclaimed directors Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine), Tsui Hark (Once Upon a Time in China) and Dante Lam (Operation Red Sea).

Trinity Cine Asia co-founder and director Cedric Behrel says: “The Battle at Lake Changjin...

Disney release “Eternals” continued to rule the U.K. and Ireland box office for the second weekend in succession with £2.9 million ($3.9 million), according to numbers released by Comscore.

The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, now has a total of £10.5 million after two weekends.

James Bond film “No Time to Die,” from Universal, continued its blockbuster business with £1.5 million in second position after seven weekends and now has a mighty total of £92.7 million.

In its fourth weekend, Warner Bros.’ epic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” placed third with £1.17 and has now grossed £18.9 million.

Eros STX’s Princess Diana film “Spencer,” starring Kristen Stewart, collected £698,065 in its second weekend in fourth place and now has a total of £1.5 million.

Rounding off the top five was Universal’s “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” which collected £574,219 in its fourth weekend and has a total of £6.4 million.

Trinity Cine Asia has acquired “The Battle at Lake Changjin” from Taipei-based sales firm Distribution Workshop and is set to release the war epic in the U.K. and Ireland on Nov. 19.

The film is currently the highest-grossing title in the world and in China so far in 2021, having earned $881 million in its home market alone — good news for the movie billed as China’s most expensive production of all time.

The U.K. and Ireland outings will occur in 25 cities. They will hit after the film’s Thursday’s release in Singapore, but day-and-date with North America and ahead of Australia (Dec. 2), where the movie is being distributed by China’s Cmc Pictures.

“It’s a privilege for us to be able to release the biggest box office story of 2021, when cinemas are just seeing the first real shoots of recovery,” said Trinity Cine Asia co-founder and director Cedric Behrel,...

Chinese distributor Cmc Pictures said Wednesday that it will release jingoistic Chinese war film “The Battle at Lake Changjin” in North America next week.

The film is currently the highest grossing title in the world and in China so far in 2021, having already earned RMB5.60 billion ($877 million) in its home market alone. It is currently the second-highest grossing film in China of all time, trailing only slightly behind “Wolf Warrior 2,” which earned RMB5.69 billion ($891 million at today’s exchange rate).

The film will arrive on screens in the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 19, and then Australia on Dec. 2. It is set to debut this week in Singapore, and has confirmed outings, but not dates yet in the U.K., Ireland and Malaysia.

Sales in overseas territories will help it push past “Wolf Warrior 2’s” record-setting cume — a development closely watched by the local state press. Both films star Wu Jing,...

"We can't just die here!" Cmc Pictures has debuted an official US Trailer for the upcoming US release this month of the Chinese epic war movie The Battle at Lake Changjin, which has already been heralded in China as their highest grossing movie of all time in the country. Set during the Second Phase Offensive of the Korean War, The Battle at Lake Changjin movie tells an epic historical tale: 71 years ago, the People's Volunteer Army (Pva) entered North Korea for battle. Under extreme freezing conditions, the troops on the Eastern Front pursued with fearless spirit and iron will, as they courageously fought against the enemy at Lake Changjin (also known as Chosin Reservoir) - which was the US Army. The battle was a turning point in the Korean War and demonstrated the courage and resolve of the Pva. It's co-directed by a trio of iconic Chinese filmmakers: Kaige Chen & Dante Lam & Tsui Hark.

On Friday, China’s Korean War epic “The Battle at Lake Changjin” became the highest-grossing film in the world for 2021, surpassing the Chinese New Year breakout comedy hit “Hi, Mom.”

The gritty war film co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam has grossed $845 million (RMB5.41 billion) in 29 days, marching past “Hi, Mom,” which earned $821 million at the beginning of the year over a 90-day period. Films are typically given a month-long release window in China, but they can be extended to a two-month run for successful titles. Decisions to allow an even longer run are rarer, and often due to political concerns or a dearth of other strong content.

“Lake Changjin” is currently China’s second highest-grossing film in history behind local title “Wolf Warrior 2″ ($854 million), which also features star Wu Jing and a jingoistic military theme.

The former has more or less dominated the China market since its Sept.

“Dune” didn’t quite manage to spice up its China open after a middling $6 million first day in the country on Friday. The film grossed just $21.6 million in its debut three-day weekend, according to studio estimates.

The result is more or less in the ballpark of its $41 million weekend tally in North America, where it released day-and-date simultaneously on HBO Max. It is nevertheless a disappointing one considering the enormity of the world’s largest film market, which has delivered much more spectacular openings in recent weeks.

As a dense, cerebral sci-fi epic, however, “Dune” is a hard sell for viewers in China’s lower-tier cities, who have recently proven their spending power by coming out in droves for National Day propaganda movies earlier this month.

The film is currently projected to earn just $35.2 million in China according to estimates from the Maoyan database, which would mean it has already...

“Dune” was unable to surpass Chinese propaganda war movie “The Battle at Lake Changjin” to take the top spot on its China opening day Friday, coming in second with just $6.45 million (RMB41.2 million) according to Maoyan data, despite a protracted charm offensive to raise awareness about the film in the increasingly sci-fi hungry country.

As of the early hours of Saturday local time, the Maoyan platform now estimates that it will mine a total of just $30.9 million (RMB197 million) out of the world’s largest film market — down more than $4 million from its prediction midday Friday.

The result is lackluster at a time when the Chinese market is capable of delivering opening days of hundreds of millions for popular titles, and where the heavy-handed “Battle” opened to a $32 million first day late last month — more than “Dune”’s entire predicted haul.

The Timothée Chalamet-starring film nevertheless did better than...

Timed to the occasion of China’s National Day holiday, the state spared no expense in making a most lavish and expensive slab of self-congratulatory movie propaganda with The Battle At Lake Changjin. Clocking in at nearly three hours, and spectacularly presented on an enormous IMAX screen, this is a gargantuan account of how Chinese troops outfoxed the Allied brass and pushed American and United Nations forces out of North Korea near the border of China in late 1950. The ultimate result of the fighting, which included great loss of life on both sides after three years of fearsome combat, was a North/South stand-off that continues to this day. So, whether you consider the film’s finale happy or tragic depends entirely upon where you were born and grew up.

Financially, its ending is emphatically a welcome one for everyone concerned with its production. After its world premiere at the...