Two Chinese entertainment stories converge this week: the death of singer Liu Huan at 63 and the outpouring that followed, and actress Zhou Dongyu's long legal fight against a decade-old rumor. Both show how fame in China survives the screen.
Paramount's 'Beast Heart,' starring Brad Pitt as a man stranded in the wilderness with his loyal dog Odin, hit Chinese cinemas on September 30. Advance screenings earned warm praise for its emotional human-animal bond.
Actor You Benchang, who became a national favourite in his nineties for his role as a wandering monk, died at 93. Hundreds queued at Beijing's Babaoshan funeral hall to say goodbye.
China filed a record 224 micro-drama titles in September, the third straight monthly high. Among them is an AI-assisted fantasy series, while urban stories overtook costume legends for the first time.
A viral Chinese feature traces the careers of four former CCTV presenters whose off-screen scandals ended their TV careers, one with deportation. It reflects a wider reckoning with celebrity accountability in China's entertainment world.
The 33rd Golden Eagle Awards honored China's top television talent, naming Yu Hewei best actor and Song Jia best actress. The night's biggest winner was drama series 'Tree of Life,' which took both best drama and best supporting actress.
Singer Liu Huan died in Shanghai on September 25 at 63, and within days his private life was picked apart online. A rare public tribute from singer Wei Wei pushed back on old rumors of a feud between the two stars.
Liu Huan, the voice behind China's most beloved Olympic anthem, has died in Shanghai at 63, his university confirmed. Within days, gossip accounts revived a 22-year-old rumor, sparking a debate about dignity and clickbait.
A wave of fresh releases is landing in Chinese theaters, from horror film Dead Zone Chronicles to the animated Red Boy: King of Flaming Mountain. The mix of low-budget scares and big-name directors shows how varied mainland cinema has become.
Chinese musician Liu Huan, one of the country's most celebrated singers, died at 63. He was known for his powerful voice, his work as a music professor, and his role in launching a TV show for original songwriters.
A 160-minute crime thriller starring Zhu Yilong leads a crowded National Day slate of fourteen films, while a 1994 Hollywood classic and a 2008 Pixar hit also crowd Chinese screens.
Twelve films crowd China's 2026 National Day holiday slate, with presales past 23 million yuan but no dominant blockbuster in sight. The spread spans crime thrillers, family comedy, animation and imported action, opening from September 30 to October 5.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Brand New Day has crossed $2.5 billion worldwide, with a digital release reportedly set for October 6. Chinese audiences helped power the film after its July 29 mainland debut.
Quentin Tarantino's re-edited Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair has landed in Chinese cinemas at 276 minutes, the longest mainstream release in recent memory, while a packed slate of local and imported films competes for autumn audiences.
A special extended version of the 2019 Marvel blockbuster earned 83.4 million yuan to win China's 2026 Mid-Autumn holiday frame, which totaled 269 million yuan. Chinese-made films filled most of the rest of the chart.
A wave of Chinese releases is filling mainland screens this season, led by Wen Muye's food drama Welcome to the Dragon Restaurant and Han Yan's crime thriller Empty Gun. Their performance will test whether homegrown films can keep momentum after a strong summer.
The sequel to China's 2023 workplace comedy hit 'Johnny Keep Walking!' has landed in mainland cinemas with a fresh cast led by Zhang Ruoyun, Bai Ke and Gao Ye. Early audience scores sit at a middling 6.6, far below the original's word-of-mouth triumph.
A new Chinese animated film about the legendary Eight Immortals has earned a rare 8.2 rating on the review site Douban, emerging as the standout title in the country's latest cinema lineup.
China's movie listings are crowded with global blockbusters and local contenders this week, from Christopher Nolan's Homer adaptation to a Quentin Tarantino double feature. Domestic titles like Wen Muye's Welcome to the Dragon Restaurant and a new workplace comedy are also drawing attention.
A viral Chinese media report tells of a woman in her late sixties who spent 225,800 yuan over two years on micro-dramas — the vertical, minute-long soap operas reshaping Chinese entertainment. The story has sparked a national conversation about binge-watching, auto-renewals and how older viewers get hooked.
The death of beloved singer Liu Huan at 63 has amplified a wave of nostalgia in China's music scene, where older songs now dominate streaming playlists. A new generation is rediscovering classic hits from the 1980s and 1990s.
Chinese cinemas are offering a rich mix of domestic dramas, comedies, and international epics this week, from a culinary road trip to a Quentin Tarantino double bill. Audiences can also revisit classics like 'The Shawshank Redemption' on the big screen.
China's AI-generated comic dramas exploded to over 380,000 titles in eight months, but falling platform payouts triggered a 42% studio exit. The crisis echoes Japan's 1980s animation downturn, and creators are hunting for a sustainable model.
Chinese cinemas are rolling out a diverse slate this week, from the historical epic 'Dunhuang Heroes' to Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' re-release, while new comedies and thrillers keep audiences entertained.
Chinese cinemas are juggling a packed slate this week — from a Tang-dynasty epic to Nolan's Odyssey — while Hong Kong veterans Tony Leung Ka-fai and Yu Qian share the screen in a new crime comedy.
A beloved Chinese actor, You Benchang, died at 93, while cinemas fill with new releases from mainland China and Hollywood and short-form AI animation floods online platforms.
A viral essay asks why China rarely produces hit sitcoms anymore, tracing the genre from 1993's 'I Love My Family' to 'iPartment' — and what streaming, censorship and short video changed.
Producers unleashed hundreds of thousands of AI-generated animated mini-dramas onto Chinese platforms this year, only to see payouts shrink and studios fold. As the bubble deflates, survivors are turning to lessons from Japan's 1980s anime boom for a way forward.
Dismissed at the Chinese box office, Feng Xiaogang's latest film has found its audience after moving to streaming, topping Tencent Video's heat rankings within days. The turnaround reignites a familiar debate about why China's pioneering commercial director keeps winning recognition only after the credits roll.
You Benchang, the Chinese actor whose tattered-robe portrayal of the legendary 'mad monk' Ji Gong charmed generations of viewers, has died in Beijing at 93. After decades of small stage roles, he found fame at 52 and won a new generation of fans at 90 in the hit drama 'Blossoms Shanghai.'
China's animation sector has evolved from domestic productions to internationally acclaimed works, blending traditional cultural elements with cutting-edge technology to win global audiences.
From Ne Zha's record-smashing runs to a new wave of studios, Chinese animated films have become a box-office force at home — and are eyeing audiences abroad.
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