On December 6, Zhengwu Sunshine's first anti-Japanese war-themed film "De Xian Jin Zhi" premiered nationwide in mainland China. (Video screenshot)
[People News] On December 6, Zhengwu Sunshine's first anti-Japanese war themed film "De Xian Jin Zhi" premiered across mainland China, achieving a box office of over 100 million on its opening day. However, this strong start unexpectedly plummeted in the following days. By December 8, the film's daily box office was projected to drop sharply to around 20 million, falling from 100 million on the first day to 67 million, and then to 20 million. This box office trajectory resembles a roller coaster, prompting the question: Why does the appeal of popular stars seem so fragile in the market?
According to promotional materials from mainland media, "De Xian Jin Zhi" has garnered attention for its portrayal of "common people defending their homes" and its use of black humour. The film is a new creation by top mainland screenwriter Lan Xiaolong, who returns as an independent screenwriter after several years, collaborating once again with his longtime partner Kong Sheng. Xiao Zhan portrays the character Mo De Xian, a mechanic in a machinery factory, with the narrative focusing on his family's survival and struggles during the Anti-Japanese War.
The box office for "De Xian Jin Zhi" fell from 100 million on the first day to 67 million, and then to 20 million, reflecting a roller coaster-like trend. (Internet screenshot)
Feedback from cinemas indicates that "De Xian Jin Zhi" achieved an attendance rate exceeding 80% during non-peak hours, but only 30% during peak hours. This discrepancy between screening schedules and attendance rates highlights the film's challenges in attracting general audiences.
Data indicates that the female audience for this film constitutes a staggering 88.1%, while male viewers of traditional war films only represent 11.6%. This significant gender disparity suggests that the film mainly attracted female fans of Xiao Zhan, failing to engage the core audience typically associated with war films. The enthusiastic cheers and screams from fans during Xiao Zhan's appearances left many ordinary viewers confused.
Critics have also weighed in on the assessment of Xiao Zhan's 'disruptive performance,' suggesting that he did not effectively convey the character's complex emotions, resulting in a portrayal that came across as stiff.
Moreover, certain plot elements in the film, such as 'chilli powder bombs' and 'mortise and tenon traps,' have led some viewers to feel that it resembles 'anti-Japanese divine dramas.' While Xinhua News Agency has praised the film's patriotic themes, it remains uncertain whether this official endorsement will translate into ticket sales among general audiences.
Additionally, netizens have pointed out that this patriotic film surprisingly featured ghost screenings. On its opening day, the early morning show had high ticket prices but was sold out. Even more remarkably, the same screening room hosted a show every 10 minutes. For instance, the RGB three-colour laser room 5 had a screening at 10:05, followed by another at 10:15; the SONY 4K room 6 had a show at 10:10, and another at 10:20. This has led netizens to question whether the box office revenue exceeding 100 million on the first day was genuinely achieved in this manner.
Furthermore, 'De Xian Jin Zhi' has yet to officially premiere, but numerous stars from the entertainment industry have begun promoting the film by booking private screenings. Reports indicate that over 30 celebrities are involved in this initiative. Initially, there were predictions about whether the film's box office could exceed 2 billion yuan. However, reality quickly contradicted those expectations, with the current box office forecast being revised down to 344 million yuan.
A netizen from Sichuan disclosed, 'In our community group purchase, the group leader is giving away free tickets to watch it, but very few people are showing interest.'
Another netizen remarked, 'The box office generated by his fans will ultimately determine how much this movie makes. Typically, there will be a spike in the first few days, but then it will struggle to maintain that momentum. Casual viewers are not going to think about going to the cinema just because he is in it; that’s simply not going to happen.'
A more discerning netizen candidly expressed, 'It’s merely a commercial film that exploits patriotic feelings. The justice that is right in front of us can be overlooked, and I’m expected to spend money to showcase my patriotism for the sake of capital?'
Many fans in mainland China are flocking to see 'De Xian Jin Zhi' primarily for Xiao Zhan. Reports suggest that Xiao Zhan dedicated three months to mastering the Nanjing dialect to effectively portray the character Mo De Xian. In terms of his appearance, Xiao Zhan has indeed shed his idol image, adopting a scruffy look that feels more relatable.
As this is a patriotic anti-Japanese film, Xiao Zhan has also garnered recognition from the official media of the Chinese Communist Party. Even CCTV News and Beijing Literary Radio have shared Xiao Zhan's New Year message for 2026. However, even the star power of Xiao Zhan cannot ensure the box office success of this so-called patriotic film.
Why was 'De Xian Jin Zhi' hurriedly released at this particular time?
Sino-Japanese relations have reached a critical point, with the Xi Jinping government seemingly at a loss regarding Japan. Recently, the cabinet led by Kishi Sanae has made a move that has embarrassed Zhongnanhai.
On December 5, Kishi Sanae's cabinet publicly disclosed the total assets of all its members, including their family members. This cabinet took office on October 21, and this disclosure was a procedural requirement completed one and a half months after their inauguration.
Kishi Sanae reported personal assets amounting to 32.06 million yen, roughly equivalent to 1.46 million yuan, placing her 10th among the 19 cabinet members.
On December 7, the news that 'Kishi Sanae disclosed her assets' created a significant stir among netizens. Within just 19 hours, it received 7,899 comments and over 10,000 likes. The public disclosure of officials' assets has always been a hot topic of great concern among the Chinese populace, and given the current tension in Sino-Japanese relations, Kishi's personal assets of only 1.46 million yuan shocked many Chinese netizens. Comparatively, even a village head might possess more assets than Kishi, let alone county or town heads.
The asset disclosure by Kishi's cabinet inadvertently struck at the 'Achilles' heel' of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the eyes of Chinese netizens, as the public disclosure of officials' assets is seen as one of the 'Achilles' heels' of the CCP—something they dare not undertake until their demise.
In recent years, due to the CCP's rising anti-Japanese sentiment, particularly following Kishi's comments on 'defending Taiwan' after her appointment as Prime Minister, many Chinese people have not been very supportive of her. Recently, after state media fueled public anger, there has been a wave of criticism directed at her, with many netizens expressing their disdain vocally.
However, this time, netizens expressed: 'While I oppose Takashima Saimi, I fully support her 100% on the issue of property disclosure! Only a selfless politician can truly serve the people. If we have a group of such politicians, Japan's prosperity is bound to follow.'
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