TV & film

tv-&-film

‘Ne Zha 2’: China’s Box Office Demon Child is Now King of Merch

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

The huge demand for products related to the hit Chinese animated movie is proving a boon for China’s e-commerce, manufacturing, and tourism sectors.

He Qitong

The Obscure Online Community Behind China’s New Box Office Champ 

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

“Ne Zha 2” has smashed China’s box office records. It’s also proof of the surprising resilience of China’s “Industrial Party.”

Wu Haiyun

‘Ne Zha 2’: A 3-Year-Old Demon Just Crushed Every Movie in China

Now China’s highest-grossing film, “Ne Zha 2,” the sequel to the 2019 hit, is redefining the future of Chinese animation.

Ding Rui

Ne Zha and Friends: Sequels Fuel Spring Festival Box Office Boom

Five sequels dominate the holiday season box office, with experts predicting over $1 billion in ticket sales.

Li Xin

Skincare to Seafood, China’s Trade Hubs Ride the Livestream Wave

A new Douyin report shows how livestreaming is driving billions in sales across China, with central and western regions rapidly gaining ground.

Chiung Yao, Iconic Author of Romance and Drama, Dies at 86

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

A prolific author and screenwriter, she shaped Chinese-language literature and cinema with her tales of love, loss, and forbidden relationships.

Sixth Tone

Rhythm of Life: The 93-Year-Old Chinatown Queen Who Couldn't Stop Dancing

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

The director of “Chinatown Cha-Cha,” a documentary about a troupe of elderly Asian American dancers, shares her insights into the life of its star, Coby Yee.

The Paper

China Tells Drama Creators: No More Evil Grandmothers

Chinese regulators have urged the booming micro drama industry to phase out a string of trashy character tropes — from “tyrannical CEOs” to “evil mothers-in-law.”

Fan Yiying

The Female-Driven Comedy Being Hailed as China’s ‘Barbie’

“Her Story” has become a box office smash with its unabashed celebration of female empowerment.

China’s ‘Ultrashort’ Dramas Embrace the Mid-Life Crisis

Ultrashort dramas are wooing older viewers — and setting younger Chinese on edge.

Xu Yuan

Dark Humor: Comedian Shines Light on a Rare Disease

Gao Xiang, a rising standup comedy star in Shanghai, has won acclaim for sharing his struggles living with severely impaired vision.

Shanghai Observer

The Surprising Legacy of China’s Catchiest TV Theme Song

The 1980s adaptation of “Journey to the West” has an all-time great opening theme. So why did its composer fade into obscurity?

Cai Yineng

Meet Ms. Hu: She Built a Garden From Chongqing’s Discarded Past

Your questions, answered. In-depth interviews with the minds and makers shaping today’s China.

Q & A

Pan Zhiqi’s award-winning documentary “Ms. Hu’s Garden” follows one woman’s decadelong effort to preserve her neighborhood’s history amid Chongqing’s rapid redevelopment — creating a sanctuary from scrap and memory.

Mathew Scott

China’s Film Industry Looks to an Unlikely Savior: Harry Potter

All eight Harry Potter movies are returning to the big screen in China, but can they lift the curse on the country’s ailing box office?

Dominic  Morgan

Echoes of War: The Untold Story of the Lisbon Maru

The director of the hit documentary “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” shares the tears and triumphs he experienced in resurfacing a World War II tragedy.

Amid Mixed Reviews, China’s Box Office Tops 1 Billion Yuan

With nearly 10 films in theaters, China’s National Day holiday box office is off to a strong start but experts question long term prospects.

China’s New Hit Film is a Harsh Glimpse Into the Lives of ‘Aunties’

“Like a Rolling Stone” has won rave reviews for exploring the darkness behind the story of China’s “road-trip auntie,” Su Min.

A Look Back at the History of Chinese Stand-Up

The art form, originally a Western import, has had its share of ups and downs in China.

Teng Wei

‘Upstream’: The Delivery Rider Drama That’s Dividing China

The highly anticipated new movie promised to highlight the struggles faced by China’s gig workers. Many say it has failed to deliver.

China’s Film Industry Rocked by Summer Box Office Slump

A string of summer blockbusters have woefully underperformed this year, sparking fears for the Chinese film industry’s long-term future.