Released 3 years ago, this non-American war film breaks all records in terms of its profitability! have you seen

We often think of Saving Ryan, Dunkirk or even American Sniper (to name a few) when we talk about major successful war movies. However, none of these classics occupy the first place in the world ranking. This record goes to the Chinese production: Heroes – The Battle of Changjin Lake, a production as monumental as it is controversial.

When China overthrows Hollywood

There was a time when American blockbusters dominated Chinese cinemas. Big show franchises like Fast & Furious, Mission: Impossible and superhero movies have filled theaters and boosted box office numbers. But since 2020, the trend has changed: Chinese audiences have been gradually moving away from Hollywood blockbusters in favor of their own national films.

In 2023, this change was confirmed: not a single American film was able to enter the top ten at the Chinese box office. Neither Barbie nor Oppenheimer nor Fast & Furious

Globally, this dynamic is also being felt: several Chinese productions are now among the top-grossing films of 2024. Before the arrival of Vice-Versa 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine last year, half of the world’s top 8 was even occupied by films from China.

A historic triumph

In this context, 2021 Heroes – Battle of Changjin LakeA war film with a colossal budget directed by three major figures in Chinese cinema: Chen Kaiji, Dante Lam and Tsui Hark.

The feature film, inspired by real events, depicts one of the most difficult episodes of the Korean War: the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. In the middle of the winter of 1950, in freezing conditions and with limited resources, Chinese soldiers confronted the American army commanded by General MacArthur. The film celebrates their victory despite cold, hunger and opposing military superiority – a story of bravery and resistance that has a strong patriotic dimension.

Made to mark the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, the film was seen as an epic war spectacle and a tool of national propaganda.

Dizzy figures

Box office success was immediate. The Battle of Changjin Lake Collected $913 million, dropped not only American sniper (547 million) and Dunkirk (530 million), but also the former Chinese record holder Operation Red Sea (2018). Its sequel, The Battle at Lake Changjin II, released in 2022, continued the same momentum and added more than $626 million to the saga.

with such figures, Heroes – Battle of Changjin Lake It is not only the highest-grossing war film in history, but also the highest-grossing non-English-language film of all time.

A symbolic victory

This triumph goes beyond the box office. It reflects the rise of Chinese cinema on the world stage and the ability of its productions to compete with or even surpass the giants of Hollywood.

between patriotism, cultural strategy and economic power, The Battle of Changjin Lake It symbolizes a turning point: a Chinese film industry that no longer needs Hollywood to conquer the world.

Heroes – The Battle at Lake Changjin is available on VOD for those who want to discover it.