4 Chinese films to look out for this year

Some analysts believe 2017 will be the year when China finally surpasses the US in terms of box office size. While that still remains to be seen, there’s no question that this will be another big year in Chinese film, full of hotly anticipated adaptations, massive new co-productions and ever more Chinese stars being poached for Hollywood flicks. Here are the movies to catch in Chinese cinemas this year. 

What is it? Due out this March, Mr. No Problem is adapted from a story by literary great Lao She. Set far from Lao’s standard Beijing locales on a farm outside wartime Chongqing, the movie is a satire about a manager who proves impossible to get rid of despite being unable to make the farm turn a profit. 

Why are we’re interested? The film marks the directing debut of Mei Feng, previously best known as the screenwriter for two of arthouse fave Lou Ye’s best and most daring films, Summer Palace and Spring Fever. For his debut as director, Mei has ditched those two efforts’ sex-drenched modern anomie for a wry comic sensibility, but we’re no less intrigued. Early reviews have praised the movie for its stylish black-and-white cinematography 

What is it? Originally supposed to be released last year, this is the next big foreign-Chinese co-production following The Great Wall. The movie is also set in Chongqing during the Second World War, and stars Bruce Willis as an American military officer. While Willis is the biggest name in the movie, most of its plot is about five Chinese pilots battling the Japanese in the skies above western China. 

Why are we’re interested? The Bombing is one of China’s biggest epics this year, with a budget and cast to match. Beyond Bruce Willis, the movie boasts a host of Asian stars ranging from Hong Kong faves Simon Yam and Nicholas Tse to Korean actor Song Seung-heon. It also features art direction by Mel Gibson, who may be a bigoted nutter but does know what he’s doing when it comes to making movies. 

What is it? Perhaps the single most-anticipated Chinese sci-fi film ever, The Three-Body Problem is an adaptation of the first book in Liu Cixin’s best-selling alien invasion trilogy. Liu’s ambitious narrative ranges from China during the Cultural Revolution to a distant, menacing alien civilization, with a healthy dose of metaphysical and mathematical puzzles thrown in for good measure. 

Why are we’re interested? The Three-Body Problem has been more than just a Chinese phenomenon. In addition to selling tonnes of copies and winning awards at home, its translation won best novel at the Hugos, the English-speaking world’s most prestigious science fiction award. The movie was originally supposed to be released last year, and its delay has felt like torture for the many fans eager to see if the movie can live up to its source material. 

What is it? The third installment in China’s best current series of kung fu films, SPL 3 has also inherited its predecessor’s penchant for nonsensical subheads – the last movie’s was the similarly baffling and vague A Time for Consequences. The past two SPL films have had unrelated stories but were united by their use of grimy urban cinematography, brutal fight choreography and top tier martial arts talent, including Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa. 

Why are we’re interested? The last SPL was an unnecessary, unconnected, ten-year-late sequel that lacked the first movie’s stars... and kicked all kinds of ass anyway. Its bone-crunching fight scenes, dumb but fun story and sweet kung fu action from Wu Jing and Tony Jaa made it both a commercial and critical hit. We’re hopeful that SPL 2’s director Soi Cheang can bring back the goods for the third installment.