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Elaine Yau

Chinese New Year is a golden period for film releases in China, with distributors falling over themselves to fight for the limited cinema slots. Last year, China’s box office took in more than 5.5 billion yuan (US$800 million) in ticket sales in the first week of Chinese New Year.
Besides the much publicised feature-length cartoon starring Peppa Pig to mark the year of the pig, the following eight highly anticipated Chinese films will hit big screens during the festival period.


1. Crazy Alien
Starring popular comedian Huang Bo and Glee actor Matthew Morrison, Crazy Alien portrays how the arrival of an alien on Earth shakes up the down-at-heel lives of Huang and his friend, played by Shen Teng. The film will appeal to fans of the hugely popular madcap caper Crazy Stone, which also stars Huang and was directed by the same director, Ning Hao.


2. Pegasus
Directed and written by famous Chinese author and racer Han Han, Pegasus stars Shen Teng as a former racer who decides to get back into the game. With no money, racing car or partners, he has his work cut out for him in taking on young racing talents.
3. The Wandering Earth
The Wandering Earth is a special-effects laden science thriller about humanity’s quest to find a new home in the face of the imminent destruction of the sun. The film stars many well-known Chinese directors, who left the directing seat to support director Frant Gwo. Directors flexing their thespian chops include Crazy Alien’s Ning Hao, A Cool Fish’s Rao Xiaozhi and the Wolf Warriors series’ Wu Jing.




4. The New King of Comedy
Directed and written by Stephen Chow, the film stars Chinese comedian Wang Baoqiang and new actress Jing Ruyang. It portrays the quest of a small-town woman to become a film star. Given the Chinese audience’s long-standing love for Chow’s films and humour (his 2016 Mermaid took in 3.4 billion yuan in ticket sales), The New King of Comedy is certain to become a box office hit.
5. Animal Rescue Squad
Written and directed by Feng Xiaoning, Animal Rescue Squad does not star any known actors. The film shows how a group of animals save humanity by stopping a poison-laden tanker from approaching port after all people on board the ship die in a pirate hold-up.


With the seemingly absurd premise, it’s a surprise that the film will screen during the fiercely-contested Chinese New Year period.


6. Boonie Bears: Blast into the Past
Since their first outing in 2012, the three lovable ursine bumblers known as Boonie Bears have charmed Chinese audiences. Boonie Bears: Blast into the Past is the sixth in the series.
A Home with a View: Francis Ng, Louis Koo in social satire
The previous release, Boonie Bears: The Big Shrink, was the second Chinese animation to take more than 600 million yuan. In the quest to be crowned the king of animation at Chinese New Year, the three bears will definitely give Peppa Pig a run for her money.


7. The Knight of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang
Directed by Vash Yan, this the latest Jackie Chan vehicle. Chan plays an ancient detective bent on solving a missing girl case.


8. Overall Planning
Starring Huang Cailun, of Hello, Mrs. Money’s fame, and Shen Teng, Overall Planning is set against the backdrop of a retro British-styled hotel. Huang plays the hotel manager whose boring life is changed by a series of strange encounters.
Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook


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Culture

Film & TV

Lifestyle

Entertainment

The Chinese box office took more than US$800 million in the first week of Lunar New Year 2018
From comedy to sci-fi to animation, these eight new releases for the holiday season are hotly anticipated


The Chinese box office took more than US$800 million in the first week of Lunar New Year in 2018. From comedy to sci-fi to animation, these eight new releases for the holiday season are highly anticipated.


Asian cinema

Lunar New Year

Eight films battling it out for Chinese New Year supremacy in China’s cinemas

The Chinese box office took more than US$800 million in the first week of Lunar New Year 2018 From comedy to sci-fi to animation, these eight new releases for the holiday season are hotly anticipated

The Chinese box office took more than US$800 million in the first week of Lunar New Year 2018

From comedy to sci-fi to animation, these eight new releases for the holiday season are hotly anticipated