A Chinese propaganda film depicting the defeat of the US Army has become a box-office smash in the communist country.
The three-hour-long war epic, titled “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” has grossed a whopping $769 million in China since its release less than three weeks ago, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed.
It’s currently on track to become the highest-grossing film in Chinese history, surpassing “Wolf Warriors II,” which made $882 million upon its release back in 2017.
As the Chinese box-office is the largest in the world, “The Battle at Lake Changjin” is technically the biggest film in the international movie market, even out-earning the new James Bond flick, “No Time To Die,” according to the industry outlet.
The film is based on the Battle of Chosin Reservoir — a military campaign which occurred during The Korean War. The brutal 17-day battle took place in late 1950, shortly after the People’s Republic of China entered the war in support of North Korea.
Against the odds, 120,000 Chinese troops managed to encircle and attack U.S. forces and their allies. While the Americans were eventually able to break free, they were subsequently forced to evacuate the region, marking their complete withdrawal from North Korea.
“The Battle at Lake Changjin” was sponsored by the Chinese government and deliberately timed for release on September 30 — a day before the country’s National Day holiday.
The release of the big-budget blockbuster — which cost $200 million to make — also comes just months after China’s Communist Party celebrated its 100th anniversary.
The film’s release also coincides with Beijing’s growing aggression against Taiwan.
Over the weekend — as millions of Chinese moviegoers flocked to watch the film — it was reported that China has recently tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile.
The Diplomat reports that Chinese citizens increasingly support the prospect of military conflicts and that “the film’s massive popularity arguably stems from China’s new view of war.”
