Movies Featuring Women's Strength Popular In China's Cinema
Over the past year, films emphasizing female power have become a popular genre in China's rapidly recovering film market, according to Maoyan Entertainment, which runs one of the country's largest ticketing services, Maoyan.
One example is Lost in the Stars , a thriller about a young woman trying to solve the disappearance of her best friend while traveling through Southeast Asia with her husband. The film, starring actresses Ni Ni and Janice Mann, grossed 3.5 billion yuan ($487.8 million), becoming the second-highest box office of the summer season, which ran from June 1 to August 31.
In addition, “The Last Suspect,” directed by Zhang Mu, the daughter of director Zhang Yimou, attracted the attention of many female viewers due to its powerful portrayal of two mothers: a lawyer and a retired teacher. In this complex story, a lawyer desperately tries to save her kidnapped young daughter, only to discover that her teacher has set a trap to personally punish her adult daughter's killer.
Films with feminist themes are also popular on the global film scene, as evidenced by the extraordinary success of Barbie , the top-grossing film in the US last year.
Liu Peng, president of the Maoyan Research Institute, said box office revenue in 2023 reached its highest level in nearly four years, significantly improving sentiment in the domestic industry.
Another new trend is that Chinese audiences are more interested in films based on true events or that address current social issues. Examples of these types of films include No More Bet , which was inspired by thousands of online scams in Southeast Asian countries, and Johnny Keep Walking! A comedy film reflecting workplace problems in companies.
Liu added that the popularity of these popular films showed the future direction of domestic filmmakers, pointing out that filmmakers should pay more attention to whether the characters, stories and values meet the emotional needs of modern audiences.
