100 Films to Flood Chinese Cinemas From June to August

It can be easy for cinephiles to feel underwhelmed by what's on offer at multiplexes on the Mainland. However, we can all rejoice as a recent dry spell is about to end with 100 foreign and domestic films hitting the big screens from June to August, according to a report by China Film News.

The busy season begins in earnest with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom's Jun 15 debut. Other upcoming Hollywood blockbusters will include Mission: Impossible-Fallout, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Crazy Rich Asians.

If Hollywood hits aren’t your scene, there are also plenty of homegrown films to choose from. Hidden Men (by renowned Chinese director Jiang Wen, who also made a splash stateside a few years back with his role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (by Hong Kong auteur Tsui Hark) will be released on Jul 13 and 27, respectively. Meanwhile, the acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou will debut his latest creation, Shadow, this summer (the release date has yet to be set). 

The flood of local and foreign films into the Chinese market follows a successful summer season last year when RMB 55.9 billion was grossed at the Mainland box office according to the China Film News report mentioned above, more than triple the 2016 total. China is the world’s second-largest movie market, but at this rate of aggressive progression, it will rival North America’s – the largest in the world- by 2019.

Let’s make the most of the abundance of movies on our shores this summer and take a look at what is worth watching. Here are our top picks:

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Jun 15)
This Jurassic World sequel will take you on a journey back to prehistoric times as Owen, played by Chris Pratt, and Claire, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, attempt to rescue dinosaurs on an about-to-erupt volcano on Isla Nublar. We follow Owen as he desperately searches for Blue, his head raptor, in the wild. However, Owen soon discovers a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet. This is not a movie for the faint of heart, seeing as the flick's fresh, new, terrifying roster of dinosaurs will practically leap off the screen. 

Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (Jul 27; filmed in Chinese with English subtitles)
One of China's most successful movie franchises returns with a third installment, Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, helmed by acclaimed Hong Kong director Tsui Hark. The film's eponymous protagonist, played by Taiwanese heartthrob Mark Chao, is this time forced to multitask as he tries to solve a complex series of mysterious events in Loyang, including the appearance of warriors wearing totem mask, foxes starting to speak Chinese, and palace dragon sculptures turning into real life fire-breathing demons. While solving a flurry of cases, he needs to defend himself against accusations made by his boss Empress Wu Zetian, his most formidable opponent yet.

Incredibles 2 (Jul 27)
What do you think happens when Mr. Incredible, voiced by Craig T. Nelson, is placed on stay-at-home dad duties for the first time? The obvious — he wants out ASAP. But that’s easier said than done, as his wife Elastic Girl becomes the bread-winner and is now the cover girl for superheroes around the world. So, superhero dad has no choice but to rear his three children at home. Jack-Jack, the infant, is the hardest to look after as he is constantly testing his incipient powers, causing trouble at every turn. Disney and Pixar’s kid-friendly superhero sequel is a fun summer movie for young and old alike.

Shadow (release date TBD but rumored to be in August; filmed in Chinese with English subtitles)
Legendary Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou goes back to his roots with this martial arts masterpiece, Shadow, staring China’s cream of the crop actors and actresses including Deng Chao, Zheng Kai, Wang Qianyuan, Guan Xiaotong, and Sun Li. The historical picture set in the Three Kingdoms era (AD 220-280) follows a king, played by Zheng Kai, who plots to win back his homeland for his displaced people. Yes, it’s another Medieval Chinese film, but this one is an artfully crafted masterpiece shot with a Chinese calligraphy ink overcast, providing a unique, refreshing, and timeless watch. 

Crazy Rich Asians (release date TBD but rumored to be in August)
It has only taken Hollywood 25 years to releases a movie featuring an all ethnically Asian cast. This hotly buzzed rom-com is based on the bestselling novel Crazy Rich Asians written by Kevin Kwan. The heroine, Rachel Chu, is an American Born Chinese played by Constance Wu (famed for her role on the TV series Fresh Off the Boat). She shares top billing with the super-rich “Bachelor of Singapore,” Nick Young, played by Henry Golding. This love story is an interesting one. It’s about the complications and problems that middle-class Rachel and upper-class Nick face as they journey down the road of marriage. The film gives a beautiful insight into the complex customs, traditions, and beliefs of traditional Chinese families. It'll make you laugh and tug at your heartstrings.

Images courtesy of DVD Releases, Far East Films, UPROXX, Cine-Asie, and Asian Movie Pulse.