Record-breaking WWII drama "Evil Unbound" leads China's box office

China's September box office had soared past a record high of 2.1 billion yuan (about 295 million U.S. dollars) as of Sunday, fueled by a wave of high-performance domestic releases spanning historical drama, action spectacle and animated fantasy, according to data from ticketing platform Beacon.

Leading the charge is the harrowing World War II film "Evil Unbound," which has shattered multiple box office records and sparked international conversation.

Released just four days ago, "Evil Unbound," a Chinese-produced historical drama exposing the atrocities of Japan's infamous germ warfare Unit 731 during World War II, has already grossed over 1.16 billion yuan (about 163 million U.S. dollars) (including presales).

The film has set two new records in Chinese cinema history: highest single-day screening count and highest opening-day screening count for any film ever released in China.

Beyond its commercial triumph, "Evil Unbound" has ignited global interest. Screened across North America and Australia, the film has resonated deeply with international audiences.

Viewers in multiple countries have praised it as a powerful, necessary reckoning with history -- an unflinching portrayal of Japan's wartime brutality and a plea to never let such horrors be repeated.

Hot on its heels is "The Shadow's Edge," a crime-action thriller starring action legend Jackie Chan alongside veteran actor Tony Leung Ka-fai. The film has raked in over 300 million yuan (about 42 million U.S. dollars) so far in September alone, pushing its cumulative total past 1.18 billion yuan (about 166 million U.S. dollars).

Also holding strong is the animated fantasy "Nobody," a spinoff from the acclaimed Chinese folktales series. With cumulative earnings surpassing 1.63 billion yuan (about 229 million U.S. dollars) -- including over 177 million yuan (about 25 million U.S. dollars) in September, the film continues to enchant audiences with its lush, classically inspired visuals and imaginative re-telling of traditional Chinese folklore.

Adding to the month's momentum, acclaimed director Chen Kaige has officially announced the release date for his long-awaited war epic, "The Volunteers: Peace at Last," set to premiere nationwide on September 30.

The film will dramatize the complex, grueling armistice negotiations that accompanied the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) -- 158 formal meetings, 733 informal sessions, five interruptions, and 747 days of talks -- the longest ceasefire negotiation in modern military history.

"Peace at Last" is the final installment in Chen's "Volunteers" trilogy. The first two films -- "To the War" and "The Battle of Life and Death" -- grossed over 868 million yuan (about 122 million U.S. dollars) and 1.2 billion yuan (about 168 million U.S. dollars) at China's box office, respectively.

Record-breaking WWII drama "Evil Unbound" leads China's box office

Record-breaking WWII drama "Evil Unbound" leads China's box office

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media