Editor's note: There are a huge number of movies, TV series and variety shows broadcast every week. How do you choose? You may want to check out the recommendations of The Paper.
【Movie】
The summer box office continues to climb. According to Lighthouse Professional Edition, this week's box office has reached 860 million yuan. "Nanjing Photo Studio," "Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain," and "Eastern Island" ranked in the top three this week. Driven by several recent blockbuster films, the summer box office has exceeded 7.8 billion yuan, and the annual box office has also exceeded 35 billion yuan.
"Nanjing Photo Studio" remains undoubtedly the most popular and talked-about film of recent times. As more and more viewers enter theaters, its reputation continues to grow, and box office forecasts have already exceeded 4 billion yuan. Driven by "Nanjing Photo Studio," audiences' interest in historical themes continues to heat up.
Stills from "Dongji Island"
This week's newly released film, "Dongji Island," adds to the history of the civilian perspective during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Directed by Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang, the film stars a strong cast including Zhu Yilong, Wu Lei, and Ni Ni. The film is based on the real-life Lisbon Maru Incident, in which Japanese forces blockaded and sank a cargo ship in 1942, resulting in the drowning of over a thousand British prisoners of war. Fishermen from Dongji Island, in wooden boats, broke through the blockade to rescue them.
To perfectly capture this historical event, the crew undertook extensive preparations, utilizing Asia's largest 9,000-square-meter "Super Water Shelter," setting a record for the longest underwater filming time for a Chinese-language film. Lead actors Zhu Yilong and Wu Lei underwent three months of breath-holding training to complete the 4.5-minute underwater shoot. The 23-minute, one-shot underwater sequence immerses you in the breathtaking spectacle of the capsized ship and the struggling prisoners, while also allowing you to experience the kindness and bravery of the fishermen.
On one side stands a weighty, folk epic, while on the other, a fantastical, joyful, and moving animation. As an original animation, "Little Monster of Langlang Mountain " continues to gain acclaim. Whether this little pig monster can replicate the same miracles as "Nezha" did earlier this year is uncertain. However, as a domestically produced animation that appeals to all ages, making children laugh and adults cry, the story of Tang Sanzang and his disciples journeying west to seek Buddhist scriptures offers a fresh spin on the already remade "Journey to the West." Beyond the fictional "Langlang Mountain," the film reveals the real struggles and plights of ordinary people.
→ Why does "The Little Monster of Langlang Mountain" make children happy and adults silent?
It's worth noting that the highly rated 2009 animated film "Mary & Max" also made its domestic debut this week. Five years in the making, this stop-motion clay animation, crafted with over 130,000 frames to create a detailed world, tells the story of the 20-year friendship between Mary, an Australian girl, and Max, a middle-aged American Jew. The touching bond between a deformed child and someone with autism, cloaking genuine emotion in absurdity, illuminates each individual's journey of self-redemption amidst prejudice and loneliness, and offers a glimpse into the warmth of humanity through laughter and tears.
Also opening this Friday, the comedy film "Qi Yu" is written and directed by Ma Duo and stars Jia Bing, Wang Hao, and other talented and rising comedy stars. The story revolves around the soul exchange between 43-year-old Huang Yuqi and 18-year-old Huang Yuqi, leading to two different lives in dual time and space.
Additionally, the crime drama "Chasing Shadows" will begin previews this week. Breaking with the traditional chase-and-escape formula of crime films, it focuses on a mysterious police force—the pursuit team—and the investigative perspectives of "tracking" and "counter-tracking." Starring veteran actor Tony Leung Ka-fai and veteran actor Jackie Chan, the film presents a thrilling game of cat and mouse, a high-tech, high-IQ clash.
Special Topic 【Summer of Movies】
【TV drama】
New drama starts filming
On August 7th, filming began on the urban romance drama "Brilliant Girlfriend," directed by Tian Hanyu and starring Tian Xiwei and Hu Yitian. It will be exclusively broadcast on iQiyi. This marks Hu Yitian's return to the production team 700 days after "The Flower of Love."
The drama is adapted from Su Guangtong's novel of the same name. It tells the story of the talented girl Lin Zhixia and her childhood sweetheart Jiang Yubai's journey from campus to wedding dress.
Hu Yitian finally joined the crew and partnered with Tian Xiwei.
New drama finished filming
On August 6, the TV series "Stay with Me to the End" starring Wang Yang, Wang Xiao, Wang Jiajia and Xu Lingyue was announced to be completed and broadcast on iQiyi.
The drama is directed by Shen Yan and Cao Kai and written by Nie Chengshuai. It tells the story of the court's "two execution heroes" Wen Zhushi and Ye Muyuan, each with their own powerful methods, who work side by side to fight the evil forces headed by the dishonest person Tang Jinyu, but because of their different ideas, they end up on the black and white sides.
On August 2, "Forty-Seven" , directed by Cao Dun and Gao Xiang, written by Huang Moqi, Fu Yongqiang and Gong Jue, and starring Zhang Kangle, Zhou Jieqiong, Simon Yam and Yan An, was completed.
The play tells the story of "47," a prisoner who grew up in Heiyuan Prison through hardships and trials. To avenge his father, he escapes and comes to Wangcheng. He meets Qijun, Bangbang, Jiang Chengfeng and others, forging sincere friendships with them. He is also drawn into the power struggle between the Yihesheng gang and the rulers of Wangcheng.
In terms of drama viewership this week, "Sword and Rose" and "A Mortal's Journey to Immortality" competed fiercely for first place, with the series almost tied. The previously concluded "Record of the Morning Snow" and the new drama "Song of the Golden Moon" competed for third place, with "The Storm of Destiny" in fifth place.
→ Episode 1｜Can "Ding Feng Bo" take on the role of "Chao Xue Lu" in ancient costume suspense?
The Song of the Brocade Moon
Part of the "Female Generals 101" series, Zhou Ye + Cheng Lei, a "transfer love" between a 95-year-old girl and a 90-year-old boy.
The original author Qianshan Chake had good luck with adaptations before. "Mo Yu Yun Jian" and "When the Wild Geese Return" were both successful cases of making a big profit with a small investment. Unfortunately, when it comes to "Jin Yue Ru Ge", his luck seems to be a bit off.
The audience's feedback mainly focused on the adaptation of the series. One was that the drama version changed the setting of the heroine's rebirth in the original novel, and the other was that the plot of the heroine's death was brought forward, and the hero and heroine discovered that the other was a girl when they were riding on the same horse and leaning on the back. This setting was a bit ridiculous.
Zhou Ye disguised as a man
Cheng Lei, who was nicknamed "Emperor Yuhuang" by netizens
On August 7th, "The Song of the Golden Moon" surpassed 24,000 views on Tencent Video, a respectable figure for a syndicated series. However, the overall quality of the series was mediocre, with netizens complaining that it was "a cheap, cheap movie," a shame for the IP and the casting of Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei.
→ Episode 1｜"Jin Yue Ru Ge": Save "Female General 101"
【Variety Show】
The "King of Singers" competition on "Singer 2025 " will air this Friday at 7:30 PM. The lineup includes: Chen Chusheng & Zheng Jun, Mickey Guyton & Loren Allred, Shan Yichun & Wang Leehom, A-Lin Huang Liling & Peng Jiahui, Beni Hong & Liu Xijun, Li Jiawei & Sun Nan, Grace Kinsler & Shantimore. For years, Wang Leehom has been frequently nominated by netizens to participate in "Singer." This time, as a guest singer, even he himself expressed his feelings: "This time, it's not just a rumor."
The competition system prioritizes two rounds, each accounting for half of the total score, meaning mistakes in either round could impact the overall performance. Tonight's jury has also been upgraded, with 100 new "live international judges" and a 20-member "national audience accompaniment team." Twenty bloggers from five major online platforms have set up livestreams to witness tonight's performance.
Singer 2025
On August 8th, the panoramic music competition program "Breaking Through 2025" officially premiered on Mango TV. Seven teams, comprised of 28 guests—"TOP Landing Youth Group," "PROME," "INTO Wan," "Big Wan Chai," "X-Brothers," "Happy Old Coffee," and "New Generation"—will compete in seven intense stages to vie for the title of "X-Team."
This season features a full-group competition format, breaking with the tradition of individual competition. Jordan Chan and Julian Cheung join the show for the fourth time, stating their confidence stems from their frequent participation. In the 0713 re-employment boy group, Su Xing serves as captain of the "Happy Old Coffee" group, admitting to "forcing his teammates to give up their positions." Wang Yuexin, despite a severe cold, performed a Cantonese song and dance routine with oxygen. Brothers, roll up for the honor of your team!
Breaking Through 2025
Mango TV's family travel reality show "Funny Artists" will air every Sunday at 12:00 PM starting August 10th. The core cast of the "Arts Family," Wu Yi and Wu Xing, along with their mother Yang Xiufang and grandmother Tian Qiju, will join forces with their friends and families in the entertainment industry for a family gathering filled with laughter and warmth. Furthermore, the show will feature authentic family interactions and fun competitions, with the goal of winning travel funds for amateur families, encouraging more families to participate.
Travel reality show "Funny Artists"
"I Praise Influencers," China's first online celebrity competitive variety show, will air exclusively on Youku every Saturday at 12:00 PM starting August 9th. The judging panel includes Huang Zitao, Gong Jun, Zhang Shaogang, Zhou Yangqing, Dong Chenyu (Associate Professor of Communication at Renmin University), and Zhang Xin (Associate Professor of Psychology at Peking University). The program features 69 teams of online influencers from platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou, Bilibili, and Xiaohongshu. The program covers a variety of topics, including treasure appraisal, dance, rural life, comedy, technology, and fashion, showcasing the diverse landscape of online content creation. Representative contestants include ancient coin appraiser Tingquan, "Farming" members Li Gengyun and Chen Shaoxi, Wang Hanzhe (China Boy), Dujiao Show, dance blogger Daigula K, and Zhang Quandan.
Pure internet celebrity competition variety show "I Praise Celebrities"
The third season of "Water Charm of Jiangsu You Don't Know," a large-scale integrated media program jointly produced by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Jiangsu Radio and Television, will premiere in prime time on Jiangsu Satellite TV and Jiangsu City Channel starting August 6th. It will also be available on new media platforms such as ai Lizhi, Lizhi News, and inJiangsu. Host Meng Fei and actress Lan Xi will recreate their roles as hosts at the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Inn," where they will experience and immerse themselves in the charm of Jiangsu's intangible cultural heritage with the post-2000 generation. The program features eight carefully designed themes, including "Spring Water Brewing Tea," "Carving the Moon and Cutting Clouds," and "Food Stories from All Directions." Each episode focuses on a specific intangible cultural heritage category, forming a systematic cultural spectrum.
The Water Charm of Jiangsu You Don't Know Season 3
iQiyi's "The King of Comedy Stand-up" Season 2 aired its fifth episode this week, marking the final round of the second leg. The "Hong Kong Good Encounter Team" (Liang Yan, Nangua, Pang Ying, Tang Xiangyu, Yingning, and Zhang Cailing) faced off against the "Happy Birthday Team" (A Shui, Da Lao Wang, Song Wanbo, Xiao Bei, Xiao Jia, Xie Xie, and Yang Meng'en).
Tencent Video's "Talk Show and Their Friends" Season 2 aired its ninth episode this week, ushering in the fourth stage—the last-minute competition—to secure a spot in the semifinals! Hou Zhiyuan revealed a day in the life of a high-energy Peking University student, Wang Xiaoli discussed beauty, Jia Hao discussed shame in life, Seven discussed the meticulous budgeting of a "stingy" person, Bu Jingyun shared stories about his rooftop, and Shanhe and Xu Zhisheng shared stories about their mothers on stage.
