(Xinhua) No superheroes, no wars and no aliens, just an ordinary lady fighting her obesity and chaotic life and realizing her dream to become a boxer -- this is the plot of this year's highest-grossing film "YOLO," a bittersweet comedy exemplifying cinematic realism that has reigned China's silver screen in 2024.
Since its February release, the blockbuster has generated over 3.4 billion yuan (about 476 million U.S. dollars) in ticket sales, contributing about one-tenth of China's box office so far, which surpassed the 30-billion-yuan milestone as of Aug. 5, according to data from online movie ticketing platform Maoyan.
Directed by and starring popular Chinese actress Jia Ling, "YOLO" has captured social media buzz and news headlines, especially with Jia's real-life 50-kilogram weight loss during the film's production.
Many viewers praised the film's compelling storyline and Jia's dedication to her role, finding inspiration in both the film's protagonist and Jia herself to make changes in their own lives.
Movie critics such as Chen Xuguang, director of Peking University's Institute of Film, Television and Theatre, believe that the strong connection between the protagonist's uplifting life story in "YOLO" and Jia's real-life weight loss journey has created a powerful modern-day allegory.
"YOLO" isn't the only top-grossing film of 2024 that has struck a chord with audiences through its realistic portrayal of characters and narratives.
"Successor," starring the acclaimed comedic duo Shen Teng and Ma Li, has dominated this year's summer movie season, ranking third on the annual box office chart with a revenue of approximately 2.7 billion yuan as of Tuesday.
With a focus on the parent-child relationship in contemporary times, the film tells the story of a wealthy couple who fabricate a challenging environment for their son to spur his personal growth.
"I laughed out loud during the first half of the film, but by the end, I was in tears. It brought back memories of the confusion I experienced while making life choices during my youth and the intense pressure of the college entrance examination," said Xu Mengdan, 32, who watched the movie with her parents.
Likening it to "The Truman Show," Xu noted that the movie resonates with a lot of viewers and encouraged them to reflect on family relations and education.
With a 1.3 billion yuan revenue, director Sam Quah's latest crime thriller "A Place Called Silence" clinched the sixth spot on the annual chart. The film explores the topic of campus bullying, a significant societal concern that has sparked heated discussions on social media in recent years.
Also among the ten highest-grossing films of 2024 are "Article 20" and "Johnny Keep Walking!" -- both winners of the 37th Hundred Flowers Awards -- each addressing different contemporary issues.
While "Article 20" centers around the story of how prosecutors and ordinary people jointly defend social fairness and justice, "Johnny Keep Walking!" spotlights a blue-collar worker's struggle between his working-class background and the corporate culture.
As socio-economic conditions and the domestic film industry rapidly develop, Chinese audiences are increasingly drawn to movies that resonate with their own experiences, Yin Hong, a professor at Tsinghua University, was quoted as saying in an earlier media report.
According to renowned Chinese director Huang Jianxin, the greatest charm of realistic films comes from their close relevance to people's living conditions and mental states, thus establishing a close tie with the audience to the broadest extent.
Apart from the commercial success of realistic works, this year's box office also features a diverse and international cinematic lineup.
On the 2024 annual box office chart, two foreign films -- Legendary Pictures' "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" and Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy animated film "The Boy and the Heron" -- secured the eighth and ninth spots, with ticket sales of 956 million and 791 million yuan, respectively.
"The vast Chinese market offers abundant opportunities for American films and productions from around the world," said Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University.
Source: Xinhua 2024-08-08 21:03:45
