Movies that were hits mainly in China: 8 blockbusters powered by the Chinese box office
Eight blockbusters that earned most of their money in China, from Wolf Warrior 2, Operation Red Sea and Detective Chinatown to Ne Zha, The Wandering Earth, Hi, Mom and The Battle at Lake Changjin.
Some of the biggest hits in recent years barely played outside one country. This list gathers eight Chinese blockbusters whose box office came mostly from China, in release order, with posters, the directors and approximate worldwide gross.
How we chose
We chose films that earned hundreds of millions of dollars, almost all from mainland China, with little presence in other markets. Figures are approximate and rounded, and sources vary, so this is not a numbered ranking.
Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)
Directed by Wu Jing. Worldwide box office: about US$870 M.
Operation Red Sea (2018)
Directed by Dante Lam. Worldwide box office: about US$579 M.
Detective Chinatown 2 (2018)
Directed by Chen Sicheng. Worldwide box office: about US$544 M.
Ne Zha (2019)
Directed by Yang Yu (Jiaozi). Worldwide box office: about US$725 M.
The Wandering Earth (2019)
Directed by Frant Gwo. Worldwide box office: about US$700 M.
Detective Chinatown 3 (2021)
Directed by Chen Sicheng. Worldwide box office: about US$686 M.
Hi, Mom (2021)
Directed by Jia Ling. Worldwide box office: about US$822 M.
The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021)
Directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, Dante Lam. Worldwide box office: about US$913 M.
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Frequently asked questions
Which movies were hits mainly in China?
Examples include Wolf Warrior 2, Ne Zha, The Wandering Earth, Hi, Mom and The Battle at Lake Changjin.
How can a film earn so much from one country?
China has one of the world's biggest cinema audiences, so a local blockbuster can reach hundreds of millions of dollars without much help from abroad.
Are these movies available with subtitles?
Many Chinese blockbusters reach streaming platforms with subtitles in several languages, depending on the region.
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Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
