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Matt Damon’s controversial 2016 monster movie The Great Wall has now become a major streaming hit on HBO Max, almost nine years after its theatrical release. The movie divided opinion when it first came out, not just from an artistic perspective, but because Damon plays a white protagonist in an East Asian setting.

The cast of The Great Wall features Chinese actor Jing Tian, Willem Dafoe and Pedro Pascal alongside Matt Damon, and tells the story of European mercenaries doing battle with mysterious monsters in China 1000 years ago. Although far from being considered one of the best movies of Matt Damon’s career, it’s proved popular with audiences ever since its initial release.

Now, the film has surged straight into the top 10 of HBO Max’s streaming chart in the United States, demonstrating once again Matt Damon’s credentials as an action hero. However, this revival of its popularity...

Image Source: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Upon its release in 2016, The Great Wall crumbled and stumbled at the American box office, only grossing about $45 million during its run. Thanks to streaming, though, the movie’s found a whole new audience: It’s currently one of the top films on Max. The monster movie, set in ancient China and filmed completely in the country, features a multinational cast headed by Matt Damon. When the movie opened, Damon said he was most interested in working with one of modern China’s legendary directors, Zhang Yimou. (Click on the media bar below to hear Matt Damon.) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Matt_Damon_The_Wall_Zhang-Yimou_.mp3

The Great Wall is currently streaming on Max and available on DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K, and most digital platforms.

The post Chinese Legend Sold Matt Damon On ‘The Great Wall’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Matt Damon is currently in the middle of filming The Odyssey, the next film from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, but arguably the most controversial project of the star’s career has stumbled into streaming success almost 10 years later. Damon stars alongside Pedro Pascal in The Great Wall, the 2016 historical action epic following a group of European mercenaries who encounter a secret army that defends the Great Wall of China against deadly creatures. The Great Wall began streaming on HBO Max at the start of July, and it’s become one of the most popular movies in America, sitting at #5 at the time of writing. The film earned abysmal scores of 35% from critics and 42% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and it even turned a profit off its $150 million budget by grossing $334 million globally.

The Great Wall was plagued with controversy even before its release, but once the film hit theaters, things didn’t get any easier.

Matt Damon is one of the biggest movie stars and many of his films have become a hit. However, his team-up with Pedro Pascal in The Great Wall didn't lead to the expected success.

The creature feature premiered on Dec. 6, 2016 in Beijing, and was followed by a worldwide release in the U.S. on Feb. 17, 2017. The Great Wall had a lot of potential and a big budget, but it ended up receiving mixed reviews and failing a the box office. However, almost nine years later, The Great Wall is finding a new life on streaming, dominating the charts on HBO, per FlixPatrol.

The Great Wall was one of the many additions to Max, and it hit the platform on July 1. The creature feature didn't immediately rise to the charts, but it finally entered the Top 10 on July 4. The action fantasy debuted in seventh place on the domestic charts.

The Top...

Filmmaker Peter Chan Ho-sun delivered a remarkably candid and deeply personal masterclass at the Shanghai International Film Festival, offering rare insights into his creative process and the personal battles that have shaped his three-decade career.

In conversation with Zhang Ji, a longtime collaborator who has written several of Chan’s films including “Dearest,” the director reflected on his artistic evolution from intimate love stories to epic historical dramas.

Speaking to a packed audience, Chan traced his journey through what Zhang identified as two distinct thematic trilogies in his body of work, with particular focus on his 2007 war film “The Warlords” and his latest work “She’s Got No Name,” which opened the festival.

Zhang Ji contextualized Chan’s career by identifying an early “Trilogy of Identity and Displacement” comprising “Comrades: Almost a Love Story,” “Alan & Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye,” and “Perhaps Love.” These films, he noted, all centered on shifting identities and geographical displacement,...

Frank Lee has spent nearly his entire life running movie theaters. At 70, after a long career as an independent theater operator in San Francisco, he and his wife and co-owner, Lida, are looking to sell the Marina and Presidio theaters which they have overseen since the early 2000s. But he says the filmgoing experience shouldn’t end.

Lee wants to “see these two theaters continue as movie theaters.”

He says he would be sad about stepping away from the theaters, which are both on Chestnut Street in the Marina District and part of the Lee Neighborhood Theatres business, but that it’s the right moment for a new owner.

“I think it’s about time. After 60 years in the business, it might be a good opportunity right now. And things are looking up,” Lee told Variety. “I think the release schedule this year could be hopefully back to normal from pre-covid.

Exclusive: With businesses spanning across broadcasting, real estate, the space industry and consulting, Japanese investor Yoshihiro Shimamura has expanded his portfolio over the last few years to include international film production.

He is also a major shareholder in two Japanese television businesses — TV Tokyo and Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings — as well as in internet advertising company CyberAgent and music data firm Oricon. Having invested in around 10 films, with the aim to release one to two a year, he has invested a total of approximately 200M yen ($1.39M) in feature projects. Though you may not know much about him yet, he’s quietly become a key player in Japanese entertainment.

Shimamura — who previously went by just the mononym ‘Yoshi’ in production credits — sat down with Deadline for his first interview with an international publication, for a wide-ranging discussion about how he chooses which films to invest in and how he has...

With John Wick 5 moving forward at Lionsgate, fans await to see how the next installment in the popular neo-noir action film series plays out after Keanu Reeves' titular character seemingly died in the last sequel. Though franchise director Chad Stahelski admits he and fellow creatives are still tweaking the John Wick sequel's story, he's sharing his vision and inspiration for the anticipated film.

Speaking with SlashFilm, Stahelski delved into his ideas for the next John Wick movie, including his influences and some potential production locations. According to the stuntman-turned-director, Chinese and Japanese cinema elements will be incorporated into John Wick 5, further boosting its neo-noir presentation.

"I will tell you as much as I know, which isn't much. Look, we have an inkling to it ... I can't tell you what John Wick 5 is about because we haven't quite got it all down. We have thoughts, I have a thematic.... You can...

John Wick: Chapter 5 gets a new tease from director Chad Stahelski, who hypes the film's globetrotting story. With each new John Wick movie, the franchise became bigger and more popular, culminating with the fourth film in 2023, which ends with Keanu Reeves' titular assassin seemingly dead and buried. The film left enough clues that Wick could return, however, and it was announced in April that John Wick: Chapter 5 is in development with Stahelski and Reeves both returning.

During a recent interview with SlashFilm, Stahelski shares what influences and cinematic styles he's hoping to incorporate into John Wick: Chapter 5. While the director makes clear that the film is currently short on story specifics, he does reveal that the works of iconic directors from Japan and China will continue to be a major source of inspiration for him moving forward, naming both John Woo and Akira Kurosawa. Global politics permitting,...

In 2024, acclaimed director Zhang Yimou was honoured with the Golden Mulberry for Lifetime Achievement Award at the Teatro Nuovo during the Far East Film Festival. This year, the prestigious award will be presented to another cinematic giant: Sylvia Chang. A multifaceted talent whose career spans acting, singing, directing, screenwriting, producing, and radio hosting, Chang is widely regarded as one of Asia’s most influential and enduring figures in the arts.

At the 27th edition of Feff, audiences will have the opportunity to celebrate both her past and present contributions to cinema. The programme includes Tsui Hark’s Shanghai Blues – a classic featuring Chang and showcased as part of the festival’s restored gems – as well as Daughter’s Daughter, a moving contemporary family drama that highlights her continued relevance and talent.

Daughter’s Daughter...

Three Chinese films are in competition at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival’s flagship Tiantan Awards, each bringing unique perspectives on human connection, justice, and survival to the screen.

“Better Me, Better You”: A Song to Female Resilience

Mahua FunAge’s breakthrough female-focused drama “Better Me, Better You,” directed by Hao Ming and Li Peiran, represents a new direction for the hitherto comedy-focused group. The film stars Ma Li, who also serves as producer, portraying Bai Liping, a caregiver from Northeast China fleeing domestic violence.

“What initially attracted me was the touching relationship between the two female characters in the story,” Ma tells Variety. “Bai Liping, the nanny, and Tang Shuyin, the retired teacher, have completely different identities and backgrounds and would normally have no intersection.”

The story follows Bai’s journey to Beijing where she encounters Tang Shuyin (played by Zhao Shuzhen), a lonely elderly woman. Their...

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a sensation when it was released back in the year 2000. No one expected Ang Lee’s martial arts epic to make over $100 million in the United States. The director, at the time, was best known for independent dramas like The Ice Storm. His taking on a kung-fu-filled fantasy epic seemed like a stretch, and when people learned it would be shot in Mandarin, they naturally assumed it would maybe be a nice art-house hit but not much more. Instead, the film played to boffo box office both internationally and domestically, leading to an unexpected revival for the wuxia genre, paving the way for the successful domestic release of Zhang Yimou’s Hero and more. Variety now reports that the high-flying martial arts drama will hit the small screen in a new TV series that’s being developed at Amazon for Prime Video.

Jason Ning will...

Hong Kong filmmaking giant Johnnie To on Monday confirmed plans to make a Hong Kong gangster movie to be shot in Japan.

Speaking to Variety at the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra event, To said he’d like cameras to start rolling on this film in Japan, where the shoot is reportedly expected to take place mostly in Hokkaido, in 2026. However To added that “several things,” including casting, are still hanging in the air.

Asked whether he’d like to reunite with fellow Hong Kong legend Tony Leung — who is best known for roles in movies such as Wong Kar Wai’s “In the Mood for Love” and Zhang Yimou’s “Hero” but has worked with To on titles including “Tomorrow,” “The Royal Scoundrel,” and “Lucky Tomorrow — To said: “Yes. I hope we can make another movie together.”

Meanwhile To, who last directed the 2019 feature “Chasing Dream” about a boxer...

China’s fourth generation of filmmakers was far from being rebellious. During the Cultural Revolution, many directors expressed their grief about lost youth or unrequited love. Others celebrated the achievements of the new China and the progressive ideas of its people. Wu Tianming‘s “Old Well” represents a set of values matching the propagandized ideology of the government. Set in a small mountain village, the moments of the uprising are nothing more than a symbolic act against the feudal system and correspond more with an act of emancipation than a rebellion.

Controversial at the time of its release, “The Old Well”, was criticized because of its portrayal of rural poverty, showing a supposedly backward China to please a Western audience. Others contended the exact opposite, claiming that the film embodies the most precious spirit of China, making a strong statement about the determination to live under the most difficult social and natural conditions.

If Asia is a galaxy, contemporary Asia is the planet the Far East Film Festival (Feff) of Udine has observed since its first edition in 1999. Now in its 27th year, the festival remains focused on the evolving landscape of Asian cinema. This year’s lineup includes 75 titles from 11 countries: 7 world premieres, 15 international premieres, 20 European premieres, and 19 Italian premieres. The selection spans popular cinema, auteur films, and tributes to the past, offering a deep look at today’s Asia.

Graphic designer Roberto Rosolin captures this perspective in Feff’s official image, reinforcing the festival’s ever-curious gaze.

In 2024, legendary filmmaker Zhang Yimou received the Golden Mulberry for Lifetime Achievement Award at Feff. This year, the honor goes to a queen of Asian cinema: Sylvia Chang—actress, singer, director, screenwriter, producer, and radio DJ. “Icon” may be overused, but few words truly capture her impact. Audiences will be able to celebrate her...

As we were checking our catalog of reviews the past months, we realized that there is a slight gap on articles about films from Mainland China. As such, we decided to start a tribute on the particular cinema, starting from the 4th generation directors and onwards. With the help of Victor Fan, who provided a list with films we “should” deal with, we came up a series of movies the writers of Amp have been dealing with since January. Following are some of the highlights, in a list that will expand throughout the year.

1. One and Eight (1984) by Zhang Junzhao

According to Zhen Ni, in November 1983, “One and Eight” was sent to censors. While waiting for the response, Junzhao and others organized a screening at Beijing Film Studio and celebrated this picture with their friends and teachers. Zhang Yimou later recalled that he was most happy and excited during that moment.

“East Palace, West Palace” is a landmark for Chinese cinema for a number of reasons, not all entirely positive. To begin with, it was the first mainland Chinese film to explicitly explore a homosexual theme. The film was shot in the spring of 1996 and was smuggled out of China for post-production in France. As a result, its selection at Cannes created significant controversy: Zhang himself had his passport confiscated when returning to China from Hong Kong on April 10, and to punish the festival, Beijing authorities also forced the withdrawal of fellow Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s new movie, “Stay Cool”, from competition at a late stage. It is also worth noting that the title derives from the two parks near the Forbidden City, the East Palace and the West Palace, whose public washrooms were well-known as nighttime gathering places for homosexuals.

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Wolfgang Petersen's "Troy" is a relic of a time when the Hollywood epic was still a healthy, consolidated institution -- before the superhero boom largely replaced it with "grounded," smaller-scale, mostly-contemporary set blockbusters. Starring Brad Pitt as Achilles, Diane Kruger as Helen, Eric Bana as Hector, Orlando Bloom as Paris, Brian Cox as Agamemnon, Sean Bean as Odysseus, and a host of legends including Peter O'Toole and Julie Christie in smaller roles, Petersen's 2004 film offers a loose, condensed reimagining of Homer's "Iliad," chronicling the most legendary of all ancient conflicts: the Trojan War.

While full of historical and literary liberties, "Troy" is a muscular, stirring movie that, seen today, feels like a throwback to a time when American tentpole movies were still driven by a chief concern to be fun. In that spirit, here are 15 other cinematic epics and historical blockbusters that will also show you a great,...

The rise and rise of the Chinese animation Ne Zha 2 is mythically impressive. Directed by Jiao Zi — a former adman with a degree in pharmacy who taught himself animation — it has rapidly and unstoppably become the biggest film ever made in China, and the biggest animated film anywhere in the world, toppling Inside Out 2’s record within six months. The original Ne Zha barely made a dent in the West — it earned just under $4 million in the US, and about £50,000 in the UK — yet this sequel is now the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, sweeping up over $2 billion in China alone. It is an ecstatic, superlative, firework-powered phenomenon.

So, what is all the fuss about? If you’ve not seen the first film — not currently available on streaming services in the UK — then this epic sequel does its level best to catch you up at the start,...

Say My Name, an upcoming China-Hong Kong romantic drama, won three prizes at the Hkiff Industry Project Market awards, which also crowned the winner of its inaugural animation showcase.

Marking the directorial debut feature of Liu Xing, Say My Name picked up the Wip award of $12,800; the White Light post-production prize, offering services worth $15,000; and an opportunity to attend the Cannes Marche to seek further support.

The story centres on a girl who impersonates an exchange student to start a relationship with a wealthy boy. Yoyo Tse, Jack Tan and Cai Jie have been cast in key roles. A producer...

Say My Name, an upcoming China-Hong Kong romantic drama, won three prizes at the Hkiff Industry Project Market awards, which also crowned the winner of its inaugural animation showcase.

Marking the directorial debut feature of Liu Xing, Say My Name picked up the Wip award of $12,800; the White Light post-production prize, offering services worth $15,000; and an opportunity to attend the Cannes Marche to seek further support.

The story centres on a girl who impersonates an exchange student to start a relationship with a wealthy boy. Yoyo Tse, Jack Tan and Cai Jie have been cast in key roles. A producer...

Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light was named best film at 18th Asian Film Awards on Sunday evening (March 16).

The Indian filmmaker attended the ceremony in Hong Kong and accepted the award from filmmaker, martial arts star and Afa jury president Sammo Hung.

Scroll down for full list of winners

It marked nearly 10 months since Kapadia became the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix at Cannes, where the film was the first Indian feature to play in Competition at the festival for 30 years.

“I’m so happy that we could end our journey here in Hong Kong,...

Though they have their roots in Chinese cinema, kung fu movies have become iconic and beloved the world over. From gravity-defying stunts to high-flying kicks, these films have captivated audiences for decades with their mesmerizing style. Some of the best kung fu movies were also responsible for turning now well-known screen legends into household names, such as Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.

The kung fu film genre gained prominence in the early '70s following the waning popularity of the wuxia films, characterized by their supernatural tropes of Chinese myths and legends. As more hard-hitting kung fu action reached the international shores, the martial arts subgenre brought a cultural revolution to cinematic history. Several of these films came to be adored across the globe, but only the best kung fu movies, like Enter the Dragon, have truly withstood the test of time.

Updated on March 4, 2025, by Christopher Raley: Kung fu...

The 2011 sci-fi comedy Paul is heading to the Peacock streaming service on March 1. The outlandish movie also features an epic on-screen team-up between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Paul follows comic book and science fiction enthusiasts Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost), who travel across the US to visit alleged UFO and Alien landing sites. Along the way, the duo stumble upon Paul, an alien who has secretly been working alongside the U.S. government, who agrees to keep him safe in exchange for his advanced technology knowledge.

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After Paul shares his in-depth knowledge withthe government, they decide to steal his abilities, which include cloaking, informational transference, and healing. Together, the group is joined by Ruth Buggs (Kristen Wigg), a devout Christian, as they are chased by agents...

Mubi has unveiled its lineup for next month’s streaming offerings, featuring Hou Hsiao-hsien’s The Assassin, Zhang Yimou’s Shadow, Quentin Dupieux’s Daaaaaali!, along with El Planeta from Amalia Ulman, whose latest Sundance-premiering feature Magic Farm was picked up by the company. An additional highlight is Joanna Hogg’s new short Autobiography of a Handbag, which is also available to stream below.

Alistair Ryder said of Quentin Dupieux’s Daaaaaali! in his review, “Despite casting several of France’s finest character actors as the famed Spaniard, this isn’t an I’m Not There-style tribute to the artist’s spirit attempting an unconventional work in vein like theirs. Dupieux clearly has no interest in those sub-genres of the biopic, either, even if he does have a clear reverence for his subject. Instead his madcap romp manages to blow up all biopic expectations in the most winningly stupid ways...

Few can rival the international fame of China’s Zhang Yimou. His directorial debut, Red Sorghum, was an instant hit. Likewise, his later films have become beloved cinematic classics. Domestic audiences often tout his historical dramas as must-see parts of China’s rich cinematic history. However, international audiences will know his name from famous wuxia films like House of Flying Daggers. Yimou's works are often hailed for their ingenuity and insight, and his themes are as uplifting as they are heart-wrenching. Yet, like any other creative, he’s had his critical flops.

One of his most divisive films is A Simple Noodle Story. The borderline surrealist comedy is a near-incoherent mix of puns, slapstick, and psychological thrills. Its original title roughly translates to Three Shots That Shock or The Three-Shot Surprise — a surprisingly apt (if not a bit on-the-nose) description of the divisive viewing experience.

Despite its multiple names, both...

The Fifth Generation, started by the graduates of the Beijing Film Academy in 1982, is considered one of the most important movements in Chinese cinema. Paradoxically, Zhang Junzhao, the director of “One and Eight”, the movie that is associated with the beginning of this movement, is one of the lesser known creators of this group. While other members of the Fifth Generation, such as Zhang Yimou, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Chen Kaige and Li Shaohong, have been awarded numerous times at international festivals, Junzhao managed to gather only two nominations – “One and Eight” (1984) was nominated for Prize of the City of Torino at the 6th Torino International Festival of Young Cinema, and “Arc Light” (1989) for Golden St. George at the 16th Moscow International Film Festival.

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Based on an epic poem by Guo Xiaochuan, the story focuses on Communist Party member Wang Jin (Tao Zeru) who is suspected of being...

First-time Chinese director Jing Yi can pinpoint the precise moment that led him to become a filmmaker. The 31-year-old was born and raised in a tiny village in the dry grasslands of China’s remote northeastern Xinjiang region, near the border with Khazakstan. Coming of age in one of China’s few multicultural communities far from the bustle of the country’s gleaming modern metropolises — the region is home to Han Chinese, Kazakhs, Uyghurs and numerous other ethnic groups — Yi’s early encounters with cinema were limited to the sanitized, mainstream fare broadcast on Chinese state TV.

As he was nearing the end of high school, though, a friend lent him a hard drive filled with downloaded movies, a cache packed with works from China’s masters — Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Wong Kar-wai and Hong Kong’s Johnnie To — but also foreign names that were completely unrecognizable to him: Emir Kusturica,...

Lives are literally on the line in Vivian Qu’s genre hybrid Girls on Wire, a surprisingly gritty study of people left behind or living in the margins that fuses gangster realism with social drama and leavens both with a dash of unexpected humor. A key player in the unfolding story is Chinese cinema itself, played by Xiangshan Film City, a dream factory with the emphasis on factory. Though it ends with a glimmer of hope on the horizon, Girls on Wire takes a very sober view of life in industrialized China, and all the myriad unfairnesses that exist there.

The first of the two protagonists we meet is Tian Tian (Liu Haocun), a country girl kept in captivity by unknown abductors who keep her dosed up with heroin to keep her quiet. When she escapes, killing a goon in the process, she decides to visit her estranged cousin Fang...

Chinese auteur Vivian Qu’s latest drama “Girls on Wire” received an emotional response at its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, with audiences both laughing and weeping during the screening.

An intimate portrait of two cousins navigating personal ambition and family obligations against the backdrop of China’s rapid social transformation, the drama, which is in the festival’s main competition, weaves together themes of independence, generational change, and the cost of pursuing one’s dreams.

The film stars Liu Haocun, who broke out in Zhang Yimou’s “One Second” and earned the best newcomer Award at the Asian Film Awards, alongside Wen Qi, who previously collaborated with Qu on “Angels Wear White.” Their casting brings together two of China’s most promising young talents, with Wen winning the Golden Horse Award winner for best supporting actress at age 14 for “The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful.”

Set...

“The Gorge” is a unique blend of romance, horror, and action that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Directed by Scott Derrickson and featuring a stellar cast including Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sigourney Weaver, the film follows two elite snipers guarding opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. As they develop a deep connection, they must also confront the monstrous beings that emerge from the depths. If you enjoyed the suspense, character development, and intense action in “The Gorge,” here are 6 movies like ‘The Gorge’ that will satisfy your cravings.

Related Read: The Gorge (2025) Review: A Hurried and Hollowed Would-be Blockbuster The Maze Runner (2014)

“The Maze Runner” is a dystopian sci-fi action film that shares a similar sense of mystery and survival with “The Gorge.” Directed by Wes Ball, the film follows Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien, who wakes up in a massive maze with no memories of his past.

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The Gorge is a sci-fi horror action film directed by Scott Derrickson from a screenplay by Zach Dean. The Apple TV+ film follows Levi Kane and Drasa, two elite snipers who are assigned to protect the guard towers on opposite sides of a massive gorge. They soon develop feelings for each other, but their love story is threatened by what’s inside the gorge. The Gorge stars Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sigourney Weaver, and Sope Dirisu. So, if you loved the fun action sequences, wild creature designs, and entertaining characters, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Maze Runner (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – 20th Century Studios

The Maze Runner is a dystopian sci-fi action film directed by Wes Ball from a screenplay co-written by Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, and T.S. Nowlin. Based...

Arp has taken distribution rights in France to Huo Meng’s Berlinale competition title “Living the Land,” which will have its world premiere Friday. World sales agency M-Appeal finalized the deal at the opening of the European Film Market.

Set in 1991, as China is going through sweeping socio-economic changes, “Living the Land” follows 10-year-old Chuang, whose family is caught between the weight of tradition and the pull of progress. A teaser clip of the film was released to Variety today.

Arp has acquired all rights and will release the film theatrically in France. The distributor has been instrumental in introducing Asian cinema to French audiences, bringing acclaimed titles such as Zhang Yimou’s “Raise the Red Lantern” (Venice Silver Lion), “The Story of Qiu Ju” (Venice Golden Lion), “To Live” (Cannes Grand Prize), Chen Kaige’s “Farewell My Concubine” (Cannes Palme d’Or), and Wong Kar-wai’s early films, from...

“Beijing Bicycle” was the third film by Wang Xiaoshuai, who was born in Shanghai in 1966 and originally wanted to become a painter. Awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale in 2001, this was Wang’s first film to be “officially” shown abroad. His first film, “The Days” (1993), was a rough piece of independent cinema, made with minimal resources, and was not submitted for censorship. Without approval from the censors, it was (and is) forbidden to be shown in public. It was thanks to non-Chinese friends that “The Days” was able to be screened in the Forum at the 1994 Berlinale. In 1997, this process was repeated with “Frozen”, which was already sensitive due to its political subject matter. It premiered at the Rotterdam Festival, with the pseudonym Wu Ming (“no name”) given as the director’s name.

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“Beijing Bicycle” is notable,...

“Black Snow” dates back to the time when the cinema of the People’s Republic, which had come to a virtual standstill due to the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and was barely noticeable internationally, was awakening from its deep sleep. Director Xie Fei, who was already 48 years old at the time of completion, is still considered one of the recognized greats today, not least because of his long-term work as a professor at the renowned Beijing Film Academy.

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In 1978, Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou were among the first to study at the newly reopened Beijing Film Academy. Both graduated in 1982, and Chen’s “Yellow Earth” (1984) marked the beginning of the triumph of the so-called Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers. The generations are easy to distinguish in that those of the Fifth Generation were born in the 1950s, those of the Sixth in the 1960s,...

Western audiences tend to overlook Chinese media. There are plenty of reasons for that, and none of them are particularly enjoyable topics. Still, facts are facts. Western theatergoers are more receptive to other East Asian media, although the tides seem to be turning. More people are expressing interest in this overlooked theatrical niche, and one of the best places to start is the historical drama genre. After all, history informs cultural norms. Gun-slinging Western films reflect America’s taste for retributive justice and heroic showdowns. The stiff but subtle humor of British period dramas embody the nation’s historical “coldness.” So, it’s only reasonable for Chinese films of the same ilk to shine a light on the nation’s rich cultural heritage.

China has a sizable collection of thoroughly enjoyable period pieces, too. Farewell My Concubine is the most famous, but there are many more to see. Unfortunately, a...

For our next tribute, we are going to deal with Chinese Mainland Cinema starting from 4th Generation onwards. With the help of Victor Fan, we have compiled a list of movies that we think are essentials, which we will be reviewing starting February and for two months onwards. Among the filmmakers we will be focusing are Jia Zhangke, Zhang Yimou, Wang Xiaoshuai, Zhang Yuan and many others.

You can follow the tribute on the following link

https://asianmoviepulse.com/category/reviews/chinese-reviews/...

Period dramas have always been immersive ways to experience history, and they’re more popular than ever. It’s easy to find something for every period in human history — from Ancient Rome to the Industrial Revolution. Audiences can enjoy the high-class thrills of the post-Edwardian elite in Downton Abbey or dig into Japan’s feudal wars with Shogun. However, there are still some historical gaps in modern cinema.

Modern pop culture — particularly in Western regions — often overlooks Chinese history. This cinematic blind spot may be born from a lack of interest, or it may be the unfortunate side effect of various political factors. Either way, Zhang Yimou’s Raise the Red Lantern is a rare exception to this unspoken rule.

Unfortunately, like many Chinese films, Raise the Red Lantern isn’t available on any Western streaming platforms. Consider checking local libraries for copies of the film. Alternatively, both DVD and...

China’s total box office in 2024 saw a sharp decline of 23% year-on-year, dropping to $5.81bn (RMB42.5bn) – the lowest takings since 2015 and 34% down on the pre-Covid peak in 2019 – indicating ongoing struggles to recover from the pandemic.

Last year’s annual gross was down from $7.5bn (RMB54.9bn) in 2023, which was seen as a more encouraging figure despite still being 14.5% behind pre-pandemic 2019.

A total of 501 films were released (425 local and 76 foreign titles), comparable to 512 titles in 2023.

A trio of local films topped the chart, with each exceeding the RMB3bn ($410m) mark: Jia Ling’s Yolo ($472m/RMB3.46bn); Han Han...

It’s astounding how many great modern martial arts movies have received near-universal praise on Rotten Tomatoes. While it’s well known that iconic classics of years gone by, like Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, have long been favored by movie critics, these films' legendary status can sometimes overshadow the merits of more recent martial arts triumphs in the 21st century. That’s why it’s important to take the time to praise modern martial arts movies that have pushed the genre into brave new territory in recent years and continued to enthrall viewers with spectacular fight sequences.

Some of the all-time great martial performances occurred in the 21st century, and acclaimed directors like Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee have kept the quality of martial arts cinema high. These excellent films boasted spectacular performances from modern martial arts stars like Tony Jaa, Jet Li, and Michelle Yeoh. While martial arts cinema...

There have been some truly incredible movies with Gong Li over the years, as the Chinese-Singaporean actress is considered one of the best Chinese actors of all time. Starting her career while still in college, Gong Li was cast as the lead in the 1987 film, Red Sorghum, which was the directorial debut of legendary Chinese director, Zhang Yimou. After that, Gong Li frequently appeared in Yimou's films, working with the director eight different times.

Despite being one of the most popular actors in China, Gong Li was hesitant to act in any Hollywood productions, finally making her English-language debut with Memoirs of a Geisha in 2005. Just one year later, she was in the underrated Michael Mann film, Miami Vice, playing opposite Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. In 2020, she had a part in the live-action Disney remake of one of their best movies, Mulan. Even with her foray into Hollywood, Gong...

Pedro Pascal remains one of the most versatile actors in the industry today, considering the density of his work since the Game of Thrones era. However, while Hollywood opens up a treasury of opportunities and choices, Pascal carefully navigates among scripts and projects that call to him and also manages to resonate with the fans and critics.

Pedro Pascal in Game of Thrones [Credit: HBO]

While box office success was the furthest thing from the actor’s mind when he signed up for the HBO fantasy epic, the future seems to hold nothing but acclaim for Pedro Pascal. But the actor’s journey in the cinematic world began with humble roots and one of the first stars to inspire and set him on his current path was Willem Dafoe.

Willem Dafoe left a mark on Pedro Pascal’s career Willem Dafoe in Spider-Man: No Way Home [Credit: Marvel Studios]

Willem Dafoe has been...

Back in 2010, Chinese actress Chen Zhixi was performing in a supporting role alongside Xu Zheng, one of China’s biggest comedy stars, in the popular period drama series Li Wei the Magistrate. The show was a hit and a significant role for her, but Chen already had grown restless with her acting work and was pondering other paths through the industry.

“Being an actor requires you to be a bit passive because you always have to just hope that you’ll get that callback,” she tells THR during a Zoom interview conducted with an interpreter. “I’m not the kind of person who likes to wait to be selected. I’d much prefer to be the one who makes the rules rather than follows them.”

In Zheng, she says she recognized a comedic visionary of still untapped potential. She suggested that they make a pact: One day, he would not...

Mainland Chinese director Lou Ye claimed the two top honors – best narrative feature film and best director – at the Golden Horse Film Awards on Saturday in Taiwan with his indie title “An Unfinished Film.”

The prizes for Lou, and others awarded on the night, represent a defiant gesture towards mainland Chinese authorities which operate a restrictive system of controls over its film industry.

The long-running Golden Horse awards had for many years been regarded as the pinnacle awards event for Chinese-language cinema. But, after a speech advocating Taiwan’s independence was given from the stage by a 2018 awards winner, China sought to ban its filmmakers from attending the event and instead promoted its own prize race.

The People’s Republic of China (mainland China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) are at loggerheads over legitimacy in many international institutions. China claims democratically-run Taiwan as its own territory with which it will be united,...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSPoison.Former talk show host and current digital media emperor Conan O’Brien will host the 97th Academy Awards. He has previously hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards and the White House Correspondents dinner, twice apiece, as well as the Fifth Annual NFL Honors ceremony in 2016.Director Todd Haynes is set to head the jury of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February. Haynes’s feature film debut, Poison (1991), won the festival’s Teddy Award.The UK arthouse theater chain Curzon Cinemas has been sold to the New York investment company Fortress for $5 million as part of a foreclosure auction of assets owned by Cohen Realty Enterprises. The Curzon group reportedly believes that Fortress is “more likely to invest...

‘Harbin’ To Be Present At Christmas

Poised to be one of the biggest blockbusters of an uneven year for Korean cinema, “Harbin” is finally confirmed to release on Christmas Day (Dec. 25). The movie had its premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival but its distributor and financier Cj Enm chose to hold back the commercial release in its native Korea until the busy end-of-year season.

The period action film follows Korean independence activists who launch a daring attack against the Japanese occupying forces in Manchuria (modern-day China).

It is directed by Woo Min-ho and stars Hyun Bin (“Crash Landing on You”), Park Jeong-min (“Decision to Leave”) and Jeon Yeo-been (“Cobweb”), who were all in action at a press launch event Monday in Seoul.

Apple Cider

Netflix has unveiled a trailer for Australian-produced “Apple Cider Vinegar,” a limited series which it will upload in 2025. The six-part drama chronicles the...

Han Haolin is a Chinese actor born in 2009. He starred in Zhang Yimou‘s spy thriller “Cliff Walkers” (2021) and in Dong Zijian‘s directorial debut “My Friend An Delie” (2024). Chi Xingkai is a Chinese actor born in 2008. He starred in “Stand By Me” (2024) and “My Friend An Delie” (2024). Liu Haoran is a young actor also starring in “Cliff Walkers” and “My Friend An Delie”, among a number of other movies and TV dramas.

On the occasion of “My Friend An Delie” screening at Tokyo International Film Festival, we speak with them about working with a director who is also the protagonist, their characters in the film and their collaboration, their favorite scenes and the most difficult to shoot, cinematography and other topics

What was the most difficult part transitioning from actor to director?

Dong Zijian: It was a very natural process, very organic. There were no big obstacles to overcome.

China’s entry to the upcoming Oscars has been deemed ineligible, meaning the country will not compete for the best international feature film award for the first time in more than 20 years.

The country had submitted The Sinking Of The Lisbon Maru, a documentary directed by Fang Li, which chronicles a tragic incident in the Second World War.

However, as the film features interviews with British survivors and descendants of the victims, the amount of non-English dialogue proved insufficient for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas). Their rules state that international feature film submissions much have “a...

Chen Kaige is one of the most renowned Chinese directors, whose directorial debut, “Yellow Earth”, is considered a turning point in the cinematography of his homeland. Together with Zhang Junzhao‘s “One and Eight” (1983) it marks the beginning of the Fifth Generation, a group of filmmakers who rejected the socialist-realist tradition typical of their predecessors, and were critical of the ideological purity of Cultural Revolution movies. Although causing significant unease among the censors, “Yellow Earth” was not banned in China. What’s more, it was met with critical acclaim abroad and won awards at the 38th Locarno International Film Festival, among others.

Based on the novel “Echoes in the Deep Valley” by Ke Lan, the story is set in 1939, during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Gu Qing (Wang Xueqi), a communist soldier, travels to a rural area in Northern China. He is entrusted with the task of writing down the lyrics of folk songs,...

China’s submission for the Oscars Best International Feature Film race this year, the World War II documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, has been ruled ineligible by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

We’re hearing that the film, the first documentary ever submitted by China for International Feature, did not meet the Academy’s submission requirement that more than 50% of the film’s dialogue track (as well as the completed film) be in a language or languages other than English.

Because it was discovered that threshold wasn’t met after the Academy’s October 2 deadline for submissions in the category, China can’t re-submit another film for consideration.

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru still can be considered in the Documentary Feature category. The Oscar shortlists in both International Feature and Documentary Feature categories, along with eight others, will be revealed December 17.

Directed by Fang Li,...