Year-ender: Top 10 cultural events from 2023

8. Domestic film industry ends on a stable recovery note

The Chinese film market has shown robust recovery momentum, with the total box office earnings for 2023 exceeding 54.91 billion yuan (over $7.75 billion).

According to the China Film Administration, all ten highest-grossing blockbusters were produced by Chinese companies; with the Spring Festival hit Full River Red – a historical suspense named after a household poem penned by the 12th-century patriotic general Yue Fei – soaring as the yearly champion.

The Wandering Earth II, a sci-fi prequel exploring digital life and interstellar journey, secured the second position, followed by No More Bets, a cyber-scam themed film that gained popularity during the summer. The crime suspense Lost in the Stars and the fantasy epic Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms respectively claimed the fourth and fifth slots.

Another film worth mentioning is Chang'an. At an impressive 168 minutes, Chang'an is the longest Chinese animated movie, a rare epic in the form. The film primarily revolves around the extraordinary lives of the great poets Li Bai and Gao Shi, highlighting their enduring friendship, and features a selection of renowned poetry verses, some of which are still widely studied in modern-day textbooks.