Editor's Note: With an abundance of movies, TV dramas, and variety shows airing every week, how do you decide what to watch? Consider the recommendations from Pengpai Youxi.
[Movies]
Theatrical Box Office
According to the professional version of Lighthouse, as of noon on November 15, this week’s national box office reached 124 million yuan, with "Burning City," "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," and "The Untold Story" topping the box office charts.
This Friday, the workplace satire comedy "Victory Is Just Around the Corner," starring Deng Chao, and the urban emotional comedy "The Love I Talked About," starring Ng Man-tat, will be released nationwide. On Saturday, the suspense crime film "The Man in a Wig," starring Huang Xiaoming, will hit theaters. Coupled with the word-of-mouth success of "Good Things," which continues to have screenings over the weekend, this weekend’s box office scene will showcase a fierce competition among mid-generation actors.
"Good Things"
Still from "Good Things"
Written and directed by Shao Yihui, this romantic comedy film tells the story of single mother Wang Tiemei and her friendship with neighbor Xiao Ye, while her ex-husband complicates matters and a new possibility arises through her daughter’s drum teacher. The two foreign women navigate personal growth amidst new challenges. Since its limited release last week, the film has received rave reviews for its relaxed atmosphere, light-hearted approach, trendy yet grounded concepts, and its laugh-out-loud humor, providing both joy and reflection.
→Director Shao Yihui on "Good Things": What will awakened women do?
→Premiere | "Good Things" is indeed a good thing
"Victory Is Just Around the Corner"
Still from "Victory Is Just Around the Corner"
Directed by Liu Xunzim, "Victory Is Just Around the Corner" features a cast including Deng Chao, Deng Jiajia, and Zheng Yunlong. It follows "The Conference Cannot Stop," another workplace comedy. Liu Xunzim, who successfully transitioned to directing with the film "Famous Notable," presents his new work "Victory Is Just Around the Corner," set against a workplace backdrop and depicting an "ultra-realistic" internal power struggle in a cement forest.
"Perfect Days"
Still from "Perfect Days"
Anticipated by film lovers for a long time, "Perfect Days" officially premiered on November 15, following a limited release strategy. Directed by acclaimed European filmmaker Wim Wenders and featuring renowned Japanese actor Koji Yakusho, it portrays the value of simple and sincere living.
→Premiere | Wenders on "Perfect Days": How wonderful it is to live in the moment
→"Perfect Days": Life is neither cruel nor beautiful enough
"The Last Mile"
Still from "The Last Mile"
As Japan's highest-grossing original film of the year, "The Last Mile" was imported to domestic audiences just over two months after its release in Japan, marking a record for the quickest import of Japanese live-action films. The film maintains the creators' consistent social perspective, using a courier explosion case as a springboard to reveal the exploitation and alienation caused by capitalist profit-seeking, composing a tragic ballad for workers. It is advised to view it alongside "Victory Is Just Around the Corner" for contrast.
→"The Last Mile": A tragic ballad of the working class
"The Couple's Tower: Horror"
Poster for "The Couple's Tower: Horror"
Horror movie enthusiasts can rejoice as domestic horror films, known for their poor quality for quite some time, introduce a new work that has genuine scares and excitement. Direct sensory stimulation might just be the justification for a cinema experience.
→"The Couple's Tower" breaks box office records, domestic horror films making a quiet fortune
Others:
The cinematic wonder opened by Hollywood action blockbusters 30 years ago
[TV Dramas]
New Drama Updates
The iQIYI suspense drama "Innocent Body" has been in production for a month, with the full cast officially announced on November 10. The show stars Wei Daxun, Sun Qian, Wang Longzheng, Gao Zhiting, Wu Gang, and Wang Zhen'er.
Poster for "No Sleep Day"
The time-loop-themed suspense web drama "No Sleep Day" announced its main cast on November 14, produced by Youku Media and set to begin filming soon, exclusively on iQIYI. The leading roles include Bai Jingting, Wen Yongshan, and Song Yang.
The drama "Uncle" , set in Northeast China after the reform and opening-up, announced its cast on November 14. Filming began in mid-October and it will be exclusively aired on Tencent Video. The series features Guo Jingfei, Wang Jiajia, Chen Minghao, Zhang Xinyi, Liu Yitiei, and Liu Peiqi.
The 18-episode contemporary police-themed web series "Waiting for You", written by Zhao Dongling and produced by Gao Qunshu, held its opening ceremony on November 14, with Mango TV broadcasting it exclusively. The show stars Liu Yijun, Yan Bingyan, Han Geng, and Zhang Yishang.
Still from "Sunshine Stars"
An 18-episode time-crossing crime-hunting web drama "Sunshine Stars" is set to exclusively air on Tencent Video starting November 20. It stars Chen Weiting, Liu Yase, Feng Delun, Xie Junhao, and Zhou Liqi.
"Good Reunion" opened with a Douban score of 5.8. "Black and White Formula" has a Douban score of 6.0.
"Lost Laughter"
Still from "Lost Laughter"
This drama, adapted from the novel "Lost Laughter" by Douban Reading author Zu Le, tells the story of Gu Yi, a stand-up comedian trying to bring joy to her audience while fully devoted to her career. However, she encounters a cold male audience member, Liang Daiwen. In an effort to bring him happiness, they begin to slowly connect and eventually fall in love.
Currently, it ranks around the top ten on platforms like Lighthouse, Yunhe, and Maoyan, with Tencent's in-house popularity exceeding 20,000, indicating a moderate performance among contemporary dramas. The drama tackles issues related to mental health among urban youth, featuring the male lead Liang Daiwen, who has a rare affective disorder—an uncommon setting in domestic dramas, adding a refreshing touch to the plot. Moreover, this series integrates suspense elements within the urban romance framework, its success in blending various components is yet to be seen.
"Deep Dive"
Poster for "Deep Dive"
Starring Cheng Yi, Ying Er, and Liu Huan, this historical espionage drama is set during the Anti-Japanese War, depicting the courageous deeds of patriotic youth Yun Hongshen and Wen Yeming as they work to uncover Japanese spies within the Nationalist Army, altering the course of the Battle of Changsha.
Although this series has been on hold for four years, the espionage theme still attracts viewers, currently ranking well on Lighthouse and Yunhe. It has entered the top ten, with a Tencent in-house score exceeding 6,000. The plot is tightly paced with each scene interconnected; its unique setup incorporates elements of reasoning, with various factions competing without much unnecessary dialogue, likely appealing to viewers who enjoy high-IQ narratives, though it is not intended for casual viewing. However, its production quality, particularly in set design, has room for improvement.
Furthermore, due to Cheng Yi's lead role, it quickly garnered over ten thousand comments on Douban despite minimal promotional efforts, highlighting the power of star influence.
Other recommendations:
Interview | Yan Ni: "Little Alley People," Crafting a Realistic Nostalgic Dream
"Frenemies": How to Break the Stalemate of the Contemporary Anti-Spy Drama?
